Sudden death and sleeping history among Finnish men

Abstract

An autopsy was performed in 460 consecutive cases of sudden death among 35- to 76-year-old men. The closest cohabiting individual known to each decreased subject was interviewed. Snoring history was obtained in 321 of the 371 interviews. In 86 cases there was a history of 'habitual' (almost always or always) snoring, and 88 men snored 'often'. The mean age of subjects was 55.4 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.3 kg m-2. Among the obese snorers (n = 82), apnoeas had been observed 'occasionally', 'often', or 'habitually' in 49 cases. Death was classified as cardiovascular in 186 (40.4%) cases. Cardiovascular cause of death was more common among those who snored habitually or often than among those who snored occasionally or never (P less than 0.05). 'Habitual' snorers died more often while sleeping (P less than 0.05). Habitual snoring was found to be a risk factor for morning death (P less than 0.01). The possibility of obstructive sleep apnoea as a cause of sudden death should at least be considered if the decreased is known to have been a habitual snorer.

Cardiovascular risk factors in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

“…A number of reports have found associations of snoring and OSAS with coronary artery disease [22,23] and with increased risk of cardiovascular death [24], although other reports disagree [25]. Mechanisms have been postulated to account for possible increased atherogenesis in OSAS [26], and it has recently been reported that patients with coexisting CHD and OSAS are at increased risk of apnoeaassociated ischaemic events [27].…”

2015 ESC Guidelines for the management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death

“…Wykazano dobowy rytm występowania komorowych zaburzeń rytmu [712,[725][726][727][728][729] oraz większą częstość występowania SCD w porze snu (od północy do 6:00 rano).…”

Sleep apnoea as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease: current evidence, basic mechanisms and research priorities: Fig. 1—

“…In 1991, SEPPÄ LÄ et al [58] reported that increasing snoring severity was associated with increased risk for nocturnal sudden death, but the data were only indicative of a possible association of OSAS and nocturnal events since they were not based on polysomnographic recordings. In patients with polysomnographic diagnosis of OSAS, GAMI et al [59] found that the risk of nocturnal (between 00:00-06:00 hrs) sudden death increased with OSAS severity, whereas cardiovascular events mostly occurred between 06:00-12:00 hrs in patients with no sleep apnoea or subjects from the general population.…”