Association Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Diseases

Kim, So Hyun; Ji, Ki Hwan; Yun, Chang Ho; Ha, Choong Kun

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) contributes to the development of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to analyze the association between OSA and cardiovascular diseases in adult.
METHODS
We recruited 718 consecutive subjects (611 male, 44.8+/-12.7 years old) diagnosed as OSA based on overnight polysomnography. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction and stroke was defined and compared with that in general adult population (the Third Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, KNHANES III 2005). Correlation between the prevalence and OSA severity was analyzed after adjusting age, sex, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
RESULTS
Prevalence of vascular diseases was higher in OSA than general population. Prevalence of hypertension was 39.0% (13.0% from KNHANES III), diabetes 8.2% (5.2%), myocardial infarction 3.0% (0.6%) and stroke 7.2% (1.6%). Apnea-hypopnea index as the marker of OSA severity significantly correlated with hypertension (p=0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Cardiovascular diseases were more prevalent in OSA. Prevalence of hypertension increased proportionally to OSA severity.