A study by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center has found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to a higher risk of heart disease in adults, even those younger than 40.
This study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, highlights the importance of screening for OSA in primary care settings to catch it early, especially in younger adults who can benefit most from early intervention.
OSA is a common condition where the upper airway becomes partially or completely blocked during sleep, leading to disrupted breathing and intermittent lack of oxygen.
Obesity is the most significant risk factor for OSA.
Dr. Bhaskar Thakur, the study leader and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern, emphasized the need for regular discussions about sleep quality and OSA symptoms during annual physical exams for all adults, regardless of age.
The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which included 9,887 adults over the age of 20, collected between 2013 and 2018.
They found that people with self-reported OSA symptoms—such as snoring, gasping, stopping breathing during sleep, or excessive daytime fatigue—had higher rates of cardiovascular diseases like angina, heart attack, and stroke.
These individuals also had more risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and metabolic syndrome (a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease).
About 51% of the study participants were identified as having probable OSA. Among them, 36.2% had hypertension, 24.3% had diabetes, 66.1% had high cholesterol, and 48% had metabolic syndrome.
Additionally, 8.6% reported having had a cardiovascular event or being diagnosed with heart disease.
The connection between OSA and an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease or risk factors was even stronger among individuals aged 20-40 compared to those aged 41 and above.
For instance, young adults with OSA were 1.45 times more likely to have hypertension, 1.33 times more likely to have diabetes, and 1.25 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome compared to young adults without OSA. In contrast, the increased risk was less pronounced in older adults with OSA.
Young adults with OSA were also three times more likely to have experienced a cardiovascular event than those without the condition. Dr. Thakur pointed out that the public often sees sleep apnea as just “bad sleep” causing fatigue, but its implications are much more serious.
With obesity rates rising, more young adults are developing OSA, putting them at higher risk for various diseases and conditions without proper intervention.
The researchers aim to further study the link between OSA and cardiovascular disease, especially in young adults, to increase understanding and awareness of the risks associated with OSA.
If you care about sleep, please read studies about herb that could help you sleep well at night, and these drugs could lower severity of sleep apnea by one third.
For more information about sleep, please see recent studies that coffee boosts your physical activity, cuts sleep, affects heartbeat, and results showing how to deal with “COVID-somnia” and sleep well at night.
