# Clinical characteristics and risk factor analysis of overlapping syndromes of COPD-OSA with metabolic syndrome in middle-to-high altitude areas

## TL;DR

This study examines how overlapping COPD and OSA syndromes combine with metabolic syndrome in high-altitude regions, finding that hypoxia may play a key role.

## Contribution

The study identifies hypoxia-related factors as potential risk indicators for the co-occurrence of OVS and Mets in high-altitude populations.

## Key findings

- Over 55% of OVS patients in the study also had metabolic syndrome.
- OVS patients with Mets showed higher levels of neutrophils, hemoglobin, and inflammatory markers.
- Living at altitudes ≥2,500 meters was associated with a 63.79% Mets rate among OVS patients.

## Abstract

To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of overlap syndrome (OVS) patients with metabolic syndrome (Mets) in middle-high altitude areas.

A retrospective analysis was performed on adult (≥40 years) OVS patients and healthy controls from Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital (January 2017–January 2024), including general and laboratory data.

1. OVS patients had a higher rate of Diabetes, Hypertension, and Pulmonary Hypertension than healthy individuals; 2. OVS patients had significantly higher levels of inflammatory markers, hematologic, and lipid than Healthy individuals; 3. The proportion of OVS patients who also had Mets was 55.24%; 4. Compared to OVS patients without Mets, OVS patients with Mets had significantly higher levels of neutrophils, hemoglobin, red blood cell distribution width, C-reactive protein, NHR, and NLR, as well as a higher percentage of time with pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) less than 80%, while the average and lowest SpO2 were significantly lower; 5. Hypoxic index, average SpO2, baseline SpO2, SpO2 less than 90%, and SpO2 less than 80% may be risk factors for the co-occurrence of OVS and Mets; 6. The rate of Mets among OVS patients who lived at an altitude of ≥2,500 meters was 63.79%, higher than OVS patients who lived at an altitude of <2,500 meters (44.68%).

Over half of middle-high altitude OVS patients have Mets, with higher rates at higher altitudes. Hypoxia may drive OVS-Mets comorbidity, while inflammation appears less significant.