Risk assessment for obstructive sleep apnea and anxiety in a Pakistani population with coronary artery disease

Previous studies in the western world have reported the possible association of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with anxiety and cardiovascular diseases. However, the data from developing countries such as Pakistan remains scarce in this regard. The main aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients who are at high risk of OSA and to determine the association between the risk of OSA and levels of anxiety.

The sample population consisted of 400 participants including 200 patients, who had been previously diagnosed with CAD, and 200 healthy controls. The 200 CAD patients were approached for inclusion in the study on their follow-ups after their acute symptoms had subsided. The patients were interviewed after a mean time period of 13 weeks post event. All patients with lung disease or respiratory infection were excluded from the study. The risk of OSA was determined using Berlin questionnaire, while the levels of anxiety were measured by Beck anxiety inventory scale (BAI).

More than half (n = 104) of the CAD patients were at high risk of OSA while majority (n = 168) of the healthy controls were at low risk. The high risk of OSA was significantly (P < 0.0001) more prevalent in CAD patients compared with controls. It was also observed that the patients who were at high risk of OSA, among both cases and controls, had significantly (P values <0.001) higher levels of anxiety.

A significant proportion of CAD patients are at high risk of OSA in our region. Moreover, OSA is also associated with greater levels of anxiety in both healthy people and CAD patients.