Urinary catecholamines in habitual snorers and controls

Habitually snoring men (n = 10, mean age 47.3 years, range 44-52 y) were compared with non-snoring controls (n = 11, mean age 46 y, range 41-52 y). The mean body mass index of the groups did not differ significantly and only 2 of the subjects were grossly obese. Whole-night sleep recordings with recording of body-and-breathing movements and the peripheral blood oxygen saturation were made. The 12-h urinary specimens were collected from 6.30 p.m. to 6.30 a.m. and analysed for epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine, respectively by liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The mean diastolic blood pressure level of the habitual snorers was significantly higher than that of the non-snoring controls (P less than 0.05). An association was seen between snoring and diastolic blood pressure in individuals with normal weight but not in the obese. However, no significant group differences in any of the measured catecholamine levels were found.