Nocturnal snoring decreases daytime baroreceptor sensitivity.
Christoph Schöbel1, Ingo Fietze2, Martin Glos2
1Sleep Medicine Center, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; Center for Cardiology and Angiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Respiratory Medicine
|April 17, 2014
Summary
Snoring may reduce daytime baroreceptor sensitivity and parasympathetic tone, even without obstructive sleep apnea. This study found impaired cardiovascular regulation in snorers compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Sleep medicine
- Autonomic nervous system function
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea impairs heart rate variability and baroreceptor sensitivity.
- Snoring alone might affect these measures during daytime.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate daytime cardiovascular function in snorers without obstructive sleep apnea.
- To compare heart rate variability, blood pressure variability, and baroreceptor sensitivity between snorers and controls.
Main Methods:
- Daytime cardiovascular testing including paced breathing, ECG, and blood pressure monitoring in 11 snorers and matched controls.
- Sleep recordings to quantify snoring and sleep apnea.
- Analysis of heart rate variability, blood pressure variability, and baroreceptor sensitivity (alpha gain).
Main Results:
- Snorers exhibited significantly higher high-frequency systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV-HF) than controls.
- Baroreceptor sensitivity was lower in snorers compared to controls.
- Mean heart rate was elevated in snorers.
Conclusions:
- Snoring may be associated with reduced daytime parasympathetic tone.
- Impaired baroreceptor sensitivity in snorers suggests altered autonomic regulation.
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