Objective To observe the level of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in peripheral blood of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), and to explore whether Lp-PLA2 can be an effective predictor for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods A total of 238 patients with suspected OSAS were selected as the research objects. According to the apnea hypopnea index (AHI), they were divided into non-OSAS group (n=53) and OSAS group (n=185) 42 mild cases, 68 moderate cases, and 75 severe cases). Among them, 74 patients with OSAS were complicated with CVD. The level of Lp-PLA2 in peripheral blood was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and its relationship with CVD in patients with OSAS was analyzed.

Results The age, AHI, oxygen desaturation index (ODI), Lp-PLA2 of OSAS patients with CVD were significantly higher than those of OSAS patients without CVD(P < 0.05). Among patients with mild, moderate and severe OSAS, the Lp-PLA2 level in patients with CVD was significantly higher than that in in patients without CVD (P < 0.05). The area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of Lp-PLA2 for predicting CVD in OSAS patients was 0.804 (0.740 to 0.859, P < 0.001), and the cut-off value was 235.1 ng/mL. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that AHI (OR=1.044, 95%CI, 1.025 to 1.063, P < 0.001), ODI (OR=1.035, 95%CI, 1.020 to 1.050, P < 0.001), Lp-PLA2 (OR=2.700, 95%CI, 1.412 to 5.164, P=0.003) and hypertension (OR=2.648, 95%CI, 1.384 to 5.067, P=0.003) were independent influencing factors for CVD in OSAS patients.

Conclusion Lp-PLA2 can be used as an effective predictor of OSAS patients complicated with CVD. Lp-PLA2>235.1 ng/mL indicates that patients have a higher risk of complicating CVD.