[Smoking among patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome--preliminary report]

Association of smoking with the occurrence and severity of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is poorly understood.

The evaluation of smoking habits among the patients hospitalized with the suspicion and diagnosis of the OSAS. The possible relationship between smoking and severity of OSAS and the occurrence of concomitant diseases occurrence was also evaluated.

82 patients has been included into the study: 11 without OSAS (apnea/hypopnea index-AHI < 5/hour) and 71 with OSAS of varying severity (AHI 7-74/hours).

Forty six patients with OSAS were smokers or ex-smokers, and 5 persons from a group without OSAS were ex-smokers. Patients with OSAS who smoked at least 20 pack years had significant higher AHI (54.5/h) than non-smokers (38.5/h) and patients smoking less than 20 pack years (35.9/h). These groups of patients did not differ according to BMI (36.8 kg/m2, 38.8 kg/m2, 36.3 kg/ms). Smokers with OSAS more frequently had concomitant cardiovascular diseases than non-smokers with OSAS (86.1% and 23.1% respectively).

Smoking influences the severity of OSAS independently of the degree of obesity.