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Educational attainment could be a protective factor against obstructive sleep apnea: a study based on Mendelian
Lijuan Song1,2, Hao Li2, Jia Wang2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
Journal of Thoracic Disease
|March 4, 2022
Summary
Higher education may protect against obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Increased years of education were linked to a lower risk of developing OSA, potentially through reduced body mass index and smoking.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- The relationship between educational attainment and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains unclear.
- Investigating a potential causal link is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if increased years of education causally influence the risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- To explore potential mediating factors in the education-OSA relationship.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Mendelian randomization analysis with genetic variants as instrumental variables for years of education.
- Employed inverse variance-weighted, weighted-median, and Mendelian randomization-Egger methods.
- Conducted sensitivity analyses including leave-one-out and Egger regression to assess pleiotropy and robustness.
Main Results:
- A genetic predisposition for 4.2 additional years of education was associated with a 27.8% reduced risk of OSA (OR = 0.722, P = 0.009).
- Sensitivity analyses supported a causal interpretation, indicating minimal bias from genetic pleiotropy.
- Longer education was also associated with lower BMI, reduced daily cigarette consumption, and increased weekly alcohol intake.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest that higher education acts as a protective factor against obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
- Potential causal pathways include lower body mass index, decreased tobacco smoking, and altered alcohol consumption patterns.
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