Airborne Microbial Signatures of Sleep Apnea Risk: Enrichment of Human-Associated and Loss of Environmental Taxa

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Sleep medicine
• Respiratory health

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder.
• Environmental exposures are suspected to influence OSA, but indoor microbial contributions are unclear.
• The Multivariable Apnea Prediction (MAP) index is a validated measure of OSA risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between bedroom airborne bacterial communities and the MAP index.
• To determine if bacterial load and composition in indoor environments correlate with OSA risk.

Main Methods:

• Air sampling using electrostatic dust fall collectors in Nordic centers.
• Analysis of dust for bacterial load, endotoxin levels, and microbial composition via qPCR, LAL assay, and 16S rRNA sequencing.
• Statistical assessment of associations between microbial exposures and MAP index using linear regression.

Main Results:

• Bacterial community composition significantly differed between MAP index groups.
• Higher bacterial loads were observed in participants with a MAP index ≥ 0.7.
• Specific bacterial genera, particularly anaerobic and human-associated taxa, were enriched in individuals with higher MAP values.

Conclusions:

• The bedroom microbiome may present a distinct microbial signature associated with elevated OSA risk.
• Indoor airborne bacteria could reflect or contribute to the development of sleep-disordered breathing.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the causal relationship between the indoor microbiome and OSA.