Snoring as a risk factor for hypertension and angina pectoris

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Epidemiology
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Snoring is a common condition that may be associated with cardiovascular diseases.
• Hypertension and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) are significant public health concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between habitual snoring and the prevalence of hypertension and IHD.
• To determine if snoring is an independent risk factor for these conditions.

Main Methods:

• A postal questionnaire was administered to 3847 men and 3664 women aged 40-69 years.
• Data on snoring habits, hypertension, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, and body-mass index were collected.
• Statistical analyses, including relative risk calculations and adjustments for confounding factors, were performed.

Main Results:

• Habitual snoring was highly significantly associated with hypertension in both men (RR=1.94) and women (RR=3.19), independent of body-mass index.
• A significant association was found between habitual snoring and angina pectoris in men (RR=2.22), which persisted after adjusting for hypertension and body-mass index (RR=2.01).
• No significant association was observed between habitual snoring and angina pectoris in women, myocardial infarction, or hospital admission for IHD.

Conclusions:

• Habitual snoring is a significant risk factor for hypertension in middle-aged adults.
• Habitual snoring is an independent risk factor for angina pectoris in men.
• Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms linking snoring to cardiovascular diseases.