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Relationships between sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and aortic pulse wave velocity over 18 years: the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine if apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) severity predicts future aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort.

Methods

Applanation tonometry was used to derive carotid-to-femoral PWV a mean of 18 years (standard deviation 4) after overnight polysomnography. Multivariable regression models were created to describe prospective associations between baseline AHI and future PWV.

Results

The 618 adults were mean 65 (7) years old (55 % male) with a mean body mass index of 31 (7) kg/m2 at the tonometry visit. Mean baseline AHI was 4.6 (9.7) events/h. In multiple linear regression models adjusted for age (β = 0.13/year, standard error [SE] = 0.01, p < 0.001) and sex, higher log10AHI (β = 0.43/events/h, SE = 0.18, p = 0.02) was associated with PWV. After adjustment for waist circumference (β = 0.01/cm, SE = 0.01, p = 0.05) and height, the association between baseline log10AHI and future PWV was not statistically significant (p = 0.11), although the association with age persisted unchanged. Addition of covariates such as smoking status (current smoker β = 0.66, SE = 0.22, p = 0.002), diabetes mellitus status (β = 2.89, SE = 0.59, p < 0.001), and systolic blood pressure (BP, β = 0.03/mmHg, SE = 0.01, p < 0.001) did not change the association. AHI did not interact with age or smoking status to predict PWV. A secondary analysis of nocturnal oxygen saturation parameters in 517 participants, 9 (2) years prior also did not show any significant relationships with future PWV.

Conclusions

The prospective association between AHI and PWV is confounded by body size and influenced by smoking, diabetes mellitus, and BP. Weight management, BP control, and smoking cessation may help prevent arterial stiffening associated with obstructive sleep apnea.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge the efforts of all of the cohort participants and its entire staff.

Access to data

James H. Stein and Paul E. Peppard had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Sources of funding

NIH grants R01HL62252, R01AG036838, R01AG14124, and UL1RR025011, K23HL094760, T32HL07936, and S10RR021086. The funding institutes played no role in the design and conduct of the study; no role in the collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; and no role in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest related to financial interests, activities, relationships, or affiliations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, H4/520 CSC (MC 3248), Madison, WI, 53792, USA

    James H. Stein, Rebecca Stern, Jodi H. Barnet, Claudia E. Korcarz, Erika W. Hagen, Terry Young & Paul E. Peppard

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  1. James H. Stein
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  2. Rebecca Stern
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  3. Jodi H. Barnet
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  4. Claudia E. Korcarz
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  5. Erika W. Hagen
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  6. Terry Young
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  7. Paul E. Peppard
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Correspondence to James H. Stein.

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Stein, J.H., Stern, R., Barnet, J.H. et al. Relationships between sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and aortic pulse wave velocity over 18 years: the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort. Sleep Breath 20, 813–817 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-015-1181-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-015-1181-3

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