Gut microbiota changes in healthy individuals, obstructive sleep apnea patients, and patients treated using continuous positive airway pressure: a whole-genome metagenomic analysis

Purpose: This study investigated variations in gut microbiota among severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients and changes in gut microbiota after continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment.

Method: From November 2020 to August 2021, laboratory-based polysomnography (PSG) was used to measure sleep parameters in healthy controls, severe OSA patients, and severe OSA patients treated with CPAP for three months. A fully automated biochemical analyzer was used to evaluate routine blood tests and biochemical indicators. Whole-genome metagenomic analysis was used to determine the microbial composition of gut samples from all participants. The relationships between gut microbiota and hypertension were examined using correlation analysis.

Result: The relative abundances of Bacteroides, Firmicutes, and Parabacteroides were significantly lower at the species level. Enterobacterales and Turicibacter were significantly higher in participants with severe OSA than healthy controls. Negative correlations were identified between Bacteroides coprocola and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = - 0.710, P = 0.003) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = - 0.615, P = 0.015). Conversely, a positive correlation was found between Escherichia coli and SBP (r = 0.568, P = 0.027).

Conclusion: The metabolic pathways and gut microbiota differed significantly between the control group and individuals with severe OSA. Additionally, CPAP therapy substantially changed the metabolic pathways and gut microbial composition among patients diagnosed with severe OSA. Correlation analysis further revealed a strong association between Escherichia coli, Bacteroides coprocola, and blood pressure levels.