Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Prevalent Hypertension in Men With and Without HIV

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a known risk factor for hypertension. Despite the well-established link between HIV infection and hypertension, it remains to be determined whether HIV infection modifies the association between SDB and hypertension.

The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

SDB was assessed using in-home polysomnography in 779 men (436 with and 343 without HIV). The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) based on oxyhemoglobin desaturation threshold of ≥3% or arousal (AHI 3a ) and ≥4% (AHI 4 ) along with oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were used to quantify SDB severity. Hypertension was defined as a blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg, use of antihypertensive medication, or self-report of a clinical diagnosis. The associations between HIV, SDB, and hypertension were characterized using multivariable logistic regression.

The prevalence of hypertension and SDB (AHI 3a ≥ 5 events/hr) was high, with estimates of 53.8% and 82.8%, respectively. Among men without SDB, HIV was independently associated with hypertension, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 3.05 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33 to 7.01]. In men without HIV, SDB was associated with hypertension (OR: 2.93; 95% CI: 1.46 to 5.86). No significant increase in the odds of hypertension was noted in men with both HIV and SDB compared with men with either factor alone, with an OR of 3.24 (95% CI: 1.62 to 6.47). These results were consistent across different measures used to define SDB (AHI 3a , AHI 4 , ODI 3 , and ODI 4 ).

Predictors of hypertension differed by HIV status. SDB was associated with hypertension in men without HIV, but not in men with HIV. Among men with HIV, SDB did not affect the odds of hypertension.