Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026
07:54
Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy DISE with Target Controlled Infusion TCI and Bispectral Analysis in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Published on: December 6, 2016
20.5K
The causal relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and otitis media: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization
Ruixin Guo1, Yifan Zhang1, Yijie Chen1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Experimental Biology and Medicine (Maywood, N.J.)
|December 1, 2025
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases the risk of developing otitis media. This study found no evidence that otitis media causes obstructive sleep apnea, suggesting OSA management may aid otitis media treatment.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Sleep Medicine
- Genetics
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) involves upper airway collapse during sleep.
- Otitis media encompasses infectious and inflammatory middle ear diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and otitis media using Mendelian randomization.
- To determine if OSA influences the risk of developing otitis media or vice versa.
Main Methods:
- A bidirectional, two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed.
- Genome-wide association study data and OSA-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were utilized as instrumental variables.
- Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method and sensitivity analyses (MR-Egger, MR-PRESSO, leave-one-out) were employed.
Main Results:
- Forward MR analysis indicated a significant causal effect of OSA on increased risk of acute suppurative otitis media (OR=1.164) and suppurative/unspecified otitis media (OR=1.150).
- Reverse MR analyses demonstrated no significant causal effect of otitis media on OSA.
- Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the findings.
Conclusions:
- Obstructive sleep apnea is a contributing factor to the development of otitis media.
- Managing OSA may offer therapeutic benefits for patients with otitis media.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Sleep Apnea
452
Sleep apnea is a condition where breathing stops intermittently during sleep, often leading to significant health issues. Each episode can last from 10 to 20 seconds or more and is frequently accompanied by a brief arousal from sleep. This disturbance, largely unnoticed by the individual, can lead to severe daytime fatigue. Commonly, individuals seek help after being informed by their partners about loud snoring and noticeable breathing pauses during sleep.
The condition is more prevalent among...
The condition is more prevalent among...
452
01:17Other Pulmonary Disorders
1.5K
Respiratory disorders encompass a range of conditions with varying levels of severity. Asthma, marked by chronic airway inflammation and hypersensitivity, is one such condition. It can lead to airway obstruction due to factors like bronchial spasms, mucosal edema, increased mucus secretion, or epithelial damage. Asthma triggers are diverse, ranging from allergens to emotional upset, and treatment focuses on both immediate relief through bronchodilators and long-term inflammation suppression.
1.5K