Does chronic intermittent hypoxia affect hematocrit level?

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Does chronic intermittent hypoxia due to obstructive sleep apnoea affect hematocrit?

• IRAS ID

  125531

• Contact name

  Himender Makker

• Contact email

  himender.makker1@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust

• Research summary

  Chronic continuous hypoxia is a documented stimulus for right ventricular hypertrophy and pulmonary hypertension. Secondary polycythaemia has also been reported in hypoxic lung disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
  Previous studies have not found that intermittent nocturnal hypoxaemia during episodes of apnoea leads to clinical polycythemia, but is rather associated with minor elevations in hematocrit (Ht).

  In this study we aimed to determine if chronic intermittent hypoxia can lead to an increase in Ht above the threshold for polycythaemia and to analyse the possible predictors of Ht.

• REC name

  London - Brighton & Sussex Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  13/LO/1721

• Date of REC Opinion

  30 Oct 2013

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion