Association between obstructive sleep apnea and pulmonary embolism

To compare the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) with a sex-, age-, and body mass index (BMI)-matched, population-based control group and to assess the association between OSA and PE.

We performed a case-control study from October 1, 2006, through November 30, 2009. We included 107 patients with PE and a control group (n=102) without PE in University Hospitals Son Espases and La Paz in Spain. Variables included in the analysis were medical history, anthropometric variables (weight, height, BMI, and neck circumference), Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, home respiratory polygraphy, basic biochemical profile and hemogram, spirometry, and physical activity.

The mean ± SD apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was significantly higher in patients with PE than population controls (21.2±20.6 vs 11.5±15.9 h(-1); P<.001). The presence of an AHI greater than 5 h(-1) and hypersomnolence (Epworth Sleepiness Scale score ≥11) was more frequent in PE patients than in controls (14.0% vs 4.9%; P=.0002). A crude model analysis by several cutoffs revealed that the AHI was significantly associated with PE. After adjustment for age, sex, smoking, BMI, lung function, and all known PE risk factors, the odds ratio for PE was 3.7 (95% CI, 1.3-10.5; P=.01).

A higher prevalence of OSA was detected in patients diagnosed as having acute PE than controls. This study identified a significant and independent association between OSA and PE.