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Snoring and the severity of coronary artery disease in men
M W Ketterer1, J Brymer, K Rhoads
1Department of Psychiatry, Henry Ford Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Detroit, MI.
Insights
Snoring is linked to more severe coronary artery disease (CAD). This study found a significant association between snoring frequency and the number of blocked coronary arteries, even after accounting for other risk factors like hypertension and smoking.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sleep Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Previous research indicates links between snoring/sleep apnea and cardiovascular issues like hypertension and myocardial infarction.
- The association between snoring and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between snoring and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD).
Main Methods:
- A case-control study comparing 122 males with confirmed CAD (via angiography) against 56 age- and socioeconomic-matched controls without known atherosclerotic disease.
- Data collected included snoring frequency, hypertension, body mass index (BMI), and smoking history (pack years).
Main Results:
- The prevalence of habitual or loud snoring increased significantly with CAD severity (19.6% in controls to 56.0% in 3-vessel disease).
- P-value for snoring across CAD severity groups was .005.
- Hypertension, BMI, and pack years of smoking were associated with both CAD severity and snoring.
- Snoring remained a significant predictor of CAD severity (p = .050) after controlling for these confounding variables in multiple regression analysis.
Conclusions:
- Habitual or loud snoring is significantly associated with increased coronary artery disease severity.
- Snoring may represent an independent risk factor or a marker for more severe CAD, warranting clinical attention.
Abstract:
Previous studies have found associations between snoring, or polysomnographic documented sleep apnea, and hypertension, cerebral vascular disease, and myocardial infarction. The present study examined the relationship of coronary artery disease (CAD) and snoring. One hundred and twenty-two males with positive angiographic studies were compared with fifty-six men, matched in age and socioeconomic status, who had no known history of coronary heart, or other atherosclerotic, disease. The percentage of subjects reporting that they snore "usually" or "always/loudly" increased across the four CAD severity groupings (nonpatient controls = 19.6%, 1 vessel = 44.4%, 2 vessel = 41.9%, 3 vessel = 56.0%) with a p value of .005. Hypertension, body mass index, and pack years of smoking were found to be associated with both coronary artery disease severity and snoring. When these variables were controlled in a multiple regression analysis, the relationship of snoring and CAD severity remained significant at p = .050.