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Association between self-reported snoring and arterial stiffness: data from the Brisighella Heart Study

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Abstract

The correlation of both obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and snoring with cardiovascular risk is well known, but its investigation is complex and not suitable for studying large cohorts of subjects. Thus, we prospectively evaluated 1476 non-pharmacologically treated subjects selected from the last survey of the Brisighella Heart Study. Snoring and sleep apnoea were investigated asking the subjects if they were aware of snoring during the night, and if this was associated with episodes of apnoea. A full set of clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated, while augmentation index (AIx), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were recorded with the Vicorder® apparatus. A logistic regression analysis identifies as main independent predictors of AIx age (OR 1.058, 95 % CI 1.043–1.065, p < 0.001), Body Mass Index (OR 1.046, 95 % CI 1.014–1.079, p = 0.005), and apolipoprotein B (OR 1.014, 95 % CI 1.004–1.023, p = 0.001). The main independent predictors of PWV are snoring (OR 1.215, 95 % CI 1.083–1.390, p < 0.001), and snoring with apnoea (OR 1.351, 95 % CI 1.135–1.598, p = 0.014), age (OR 1.078, 95 % CI 1.052–1.089, p < 0.001), serum uric acid [SUA] (OR 1.093, 95 % CI 1.026–1.151, p < 0.001) and mean arterial pressure (OR 1.042, 95 % CI 1.024–1.056, p < 0.001). In conclusion, in our cohort of overall healthy subjects, self-reported snoring and sleep apnoea are independently associated with a higher PVW, and AIx is statistically significantly higher in snorers with or without sleep apnoea than in non-snorers. Body Mass Index and apolipoprotein B are associated with AIx, while SUA and mean arterial pressure are related to PWV.

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Acknowledgments

We particularly acknowledge Marina Giovannini and Elisabetta Rizzoli for their support for the Brisighella Heart Study laboratory activity and Marcella Cagnati for her work on data managing. We also sincerely thank the Faenza public health district and all the General Practitioners of Brisighella for their continuous support of the study.

The Brisighella Study Group

Arrigo F.G. Cicero, Martina Rosticci, Cristina Baronio, Martino Morbini, Angelo Parini, Giulia Grossi, Elisa Grandi, Sergio D’Addato, Elena Ancarani, Silvia Palmesano, Marina Giovannini, Elisabetta Rizzoli, Marcella Cagnati, Giovanni Gardini, Riccardo Urso, Giuseppe Derosa, Stefano Bacchelli, Claudio Borghi.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Medical and Surgical Sciences Department, U.O. Medicina Interna Borghi, Sant’Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, Via Albertoni, 15, 40138, Bologna, Italy

      Arrigo F. G. Cicero, Martino Morbini, Riccardo Urso, Martina Rosticci, Angelo Parini, Elisa Grandi, Sergio D’Addato & Claudio Borghi

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    1. Arrigo F. G. Cicero
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    Correspondence to Arrigo F. G. Cicero.

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    This work has been conducted with funding by the University of Bologna, and with an unrestricted grant from the “Fondazione del Monte” (Bank foundation).

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    No author has a specific conflict of interest in the publication of this paper.

    Statement of human and animal rights

    The BHS protocol and its sub-studies, largely described elsewhere, have been approved by the Ethical Board of the University of Bologna.

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    A. F. G. Cicero and M. Morbini are the first authors since they equally contributed to the paper.

    A full list of Brisighella Heart Study Group is given in the "Acknowledgments".

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    Cicero, A.F.G., Morbini, M., Urso, R. et al. Association between self-reported snoring and arterial stiffness: data from the Brisighella Heart Study. Intern Emerg Med 11, 77–83 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-015-1310-9

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