Snoring, sleep apnoea and cardiovascular risk factors: the MONICA II Study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the cardiovascular risk profile in self-reported snorers and sleep apnoeics in an adult representatively-selected population. A total of 1504 males and females, aged 30, 40, 50 and 60 years were included. The following were measured: snoring, alcohol and tobacco consumption by questionnaire, blood pressure, serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol. Nocturnal respiration was determined in 748 participants. Respiratory distress index (RDI) was defined as the number of apnoea and hypopnoea lasting longer than 10 seconds per hour sleep. Habitual snoring was reported by 19.1% (9.2-24.2%, aged 30-60 years) of males and 7.9% (3.8-11.7%, age 30-60 years) of females. An RDI > or = 5 was found in 10.9% (7.1-18.3%, age 30-60 years) of males and in 6.3% (5.3-7.6%, age 30-60 years) of females. The following factors were associated with snoring: age (P < 0.02), sex (P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.0001), alcohol (P < 0.05) and tobacco (P < 0.01) consumption. An RDI > or = 5 was associated with sex (P < 0.001), age (P < 0.05), BMI (P < 0.0001), tobacco (P < 0.02) and alcohol (P < 0.05) consumption. Self-reported snores showed higher systolic (P < 0.001) and diastolic (P < 0.001) blood pressure and total cholesterol (P < 0.001) and a lower HDL (P < 0.001). The participants with RDI > or = 5 showed higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.001) and total cholesterol (P < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)