Long-term All-Cause Mortality Risk in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Using Hypopneas Defined by a ≥3 Percent Oxygen...

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Cardiovascular Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Previous studies linked obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to increased mortality using a 4% oxygen desaturation criterion.
• Large-scale community studies are lacking for OSA defined by a 3% oxygen desaturation or arousal (AHI3%A) criterion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term mortality risk associated with OSA diagnosed using the AHI3%A criteria in a community-based cohort.
• To determine if OSA severity, defined by AHI3%A, impacts all-cause mortality.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 5591 participants from the Sleep Heart Health Study without prevalent cardiovascular disease.
• Diagnosis of OSA using the AHI3%A criteria based on polysomnography data.
• Long-term follow-up for all-cause mortality over approximately 10.9 years.

Main Results:

• Increasing Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) severity was associated with reduced survival.
• Severe OSA (AHI3%A) significantly increased all-cause mortality risk (adjusted HR 1.38).
• Increased mortality risk from severe OSA was prominent in men and individuals younger than 70.

Conclusions:

• Severe OSA, defined by AHI3%A, is a significant predictor of increased all-cause mortality.
• The mortality risk associated with severe OSA is notably higher in men and younger adults (<70 years).
• OSA severity did not show a significant association with mortality in women or older adults (≥70 years).