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Modeling the effects of obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension in Vietnam veterans with PTSD

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Abstract

Purpose

The present work aimed to extend models suggesting that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with worse cognitive performance in community-dwelling older adults. We hypothesized that in addition to indices of OSA severity, hypertension is associated with worse cognitive performance in such adults.

Methods

The PTSD Apnea Clinical Study recruited 120 community-dwelling, male veterans diagnosed with PTSD, ages 55 and older. The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and Color-Word Interference Test (CWIT) were measures of auditory verbal memory and executive function, respectively. Apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), minimum and mean pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (min SpO2, mean SpO2) indicators were determined during standard overnight polysomnography. Multivariate linear regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed.

Results

In regression models, AHI (β = −4.099; p < 0.01) and hypertension (β = −4.500; p < 0.05) predicted RAVLT; hypertension alone (β = 9.146; p < 0.01) predicted CWIT. ROC analyses selected min SpO2 cut-points of 85% for RAVLT (κ = 0.27; χ² = 8.23, p < 0.01) and 80% for CWIT (κ = 0.25; χ² = 12.65, p < 0.01). Min SpO2 cut-points and hypertension were significant when added simultaneously in a regression model for RAVLT (min SpO2, β = 4.452; p < 0.05; hypertension, β = −4.332; p < 0.05), and in separate models for CWIT (min SpO2, β = −8.286; p < 0.05; hypertension, β = −8.993; p < 0.01).

Conclusions

OSA severity and presence of self-reported hypertension are associated with poor auditory verbal memory and executive function in older adults.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Medical Research Service of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Merit Review Grant and the Sierra-Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC). B.K.S. is currently supported by the Office of Academic Affiliations, Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment, Department of Veteran Affairs, by the Medical Research Service of the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, and by the Department of Veterans Affairs Sierra-Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC). The authors would like to acknowledge the efforts of Emily Luther, Tim Kimball, Rachel Cooper, Kader Ucar, Claire Stewart, Candace Romandia, and Shannon Hsu for their assistance with study coordination and data collection.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA

    Lisa M. Kinoshita, Jerome A. Yesavage, Joy Taylor, Jamie M. Zeitzer, J. Kaci Fairchild, Jauhtai Cheng, Ware Kuschner, Ruth O’Hara, Jon-Erik C. Holty & Blake K. Scanlon

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Lisa M. Kinoshita, Jerome A. Yesavage, Art Noda, Booil Jo, Beatriz Hernandez, Joy Taylor, Jamie M. Zeitzer, Leah Friedman, J. Kaci Fairchild, Jauhtai Cheng, Ruth O’Hara & Blake K. Scanlon

  3. Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, 300 Pasteur Drive, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Ware Kuschner & Jon-Erik C. Holty

  4. VA Palo Alto Health Care System (151Y), 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA, 94304, USA

    Lisa M. Kinoshita

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  1. Lisa M. Kinoshita
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Correspondence to Lisa M. Kinoshita.

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Kinoshita, L.M., Yesavage, J.A., Noda, A. et al. Modeling the effects of obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension in Vietnam veterans with PTSD. Sleep Breath 16, 1201–1209 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-011-0632-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-011-0632-8

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