Cardiovascular diseases and type D personality in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a prospective cohort study

To determine the influence of type D personality on the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), anxiety, depression, sleep quality and insomnia in OSA patients.

Patients planned for a polysomnography filled out the DS-14 questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). History of cardiovascular diseases and current medication intake were assessed.

In a cohort of 948, OSA patients with type D personality did not have CVD more often (40%) compared to OSA patients without type D personality (42%) (P = 0.625). Out of 395 patients with OSA and CVD, 70% were treated for isolated arterial hypertension (AHT) and 30% for cerebrovascular and/or cardiac pathologies. Cerebrovascular and/or cardiac pathologies were significantly more prevalent in OSA patients with type D personality vs. without (39% vs. 26%; P = 0.001). In OSA patients with CVD and type D personality, medication intake was significantly higher (> 2 cardiovascular medications (P = 0.009), anxiolytics (P = 0.001), antidepressants (P = 0.011), sleep medication (P = 0.002)) as well as scores of HADS for anxiety (P < 0.0001) and depression (P < 0.0001), ISI (P = < 0.0001) and PSQI (P < 0.0001).

The prevalence of CVD in OSA patients was not related to the presence of type D personality. Apart from arterial hypertension, cerebrovascular and/or cardiac pathologies were more frequently observed in OSA patients with type D personality. In OSA patients with CVD, the presence of type D personality was associated with more depression, anxiety, insomnia, poor sleep quality and more medication intake.