Obstructive sleep apnea and ischemic heart disease in southwestern US veterans: implications for clinical practice

Abstract

This study describes associations between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), intake of food rich in antioxidant nutrients, and ischemic heart disease (IHD) in military veterans. Subjects were male veterans (n=211), 54 to 85 years of age, and enrolled in primary care clinics at the Southern Arizona Veterans Affairs Health Care System (SAVAHCS), Tucson, AZ. Measures included the SAVAHCS Minority Vascular Center Questionnaire, the Sleep Heart Health Study Sleep Habits Questionnaire, the Arizona Food Frequency Questionnaire, height, weight, and blood pressure. Veterans with OSA were significantly more likely to be obese, to have elevated systolic blood pressure and physician-diagnosed IHD, more likely to undergo coronary angiography, and less likely to consume foods rich in cardioprotective antioxidants compared to veterans without OSA. After adjusting for confounding variables, the association between OSA and IHD remains significant [adjusted OR=2.99, confidence interval (CI)=1.07-8.42]. These data reinforce the importance of recognizing OSA within the veterans affairs health care system and suggest that early detection of OSA may improve veterans' health and well-being and reduce associated medical costs.

Spanish Translation and Cross-Language Validation of a Sleep Habits Questionnaire for Use in Clinical and Research Settings

“…1,5,7,11,17,18 Despite the growing clinical and public health concerns regarding sleep disorders, few studies have examined associations between sleep and race/ethnicity in the United States. A majority of extant racial/ethnic studies compared African Americans with and without sleep disorders, or comparing African and Caucasian Americans on sleep disordered breathing, snoring, sleep architecture, insomnia symptoms, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, comorbid conditions, and health-related quality of life.…”

“…S leep research over the past two decades has shown associations between sleep disorders and chronic disease, [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] poorer health-related quality of life, 8,9 increased health and work-related costs, and travel and work-related accidents. 10,11 Prevalence rates for insomnia, the most commonly reported sleep complaint, range from 20% to 40% of the population, depending on the defi ned severity and frequency, 12 and is suggested to have a bidirectional relationship with several chronic conditions including depression and cardiovascular disease.…”

“…5 These and other sleep disruptions can contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness, 16 making sleep disorders signifi cant contributors to disability, morbidity, and mortality. 1,5,7,11,17,18 participation and were compensated $30 for their time. All facets of this study were reviewed and approved by the university institutional review board.…”

Prospective study of the prevalence and co-morbidities of obstructive sleep apnea in active-duty army personnel in the three southernmost provinces of Thailand using questionnaire screening

“…Short-term effects include morning headaches due to CO 2 retention, tiredness, daytime sleepiness, decreased cognitive function (thinking, memory, mood or concentration) and may involve psychomotor function that may lead to accidents in traffic and working with machines [ 10 ]. Long-term effects include hypertension, cardiomegaly, especially on the right side of the heart from pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmia from the lack of oxygen, polycythemia and ischemic heart disease [ 11 , 12 ].…”

Coronary Heart Disease Incidence in Sleep Disordered Breathing: The Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study

“…[3][4][5] An association between SDB and CHD has been reported in several observational and clinic-based crosssectional studies. 6,7 However, studies on the incidence of new CHD among individuals with SDB in nonclinical populations have shown variable results. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] In the largest longitudinal study to date, the Sleep Heart Health Study, SDB was associated with incident cardiovascular disease among men 40-70 y old with the most severe SDB (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥ 30).…”