A new study assessed the prevalence of probable obstructive sleep apnea and its relationship with cardiovascular diseasee in young adults aged 20-40 and those older than 40.
Summary: A study by UT Southwestern Medical Center found that obstructive sleep apnea is linked to an increased risk of heart disease in both young adults aged 20-40 and older adults. The research, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, emphasizes the need for regular obstructive sleep apnea screening in primary care, especially for younger adults, due to the strong association between obstructive sleep apnea and various heart-related conditions. The study analyzed data from 9,887 adults and highlighted higher rates of cardiovascular disease and related risk factors among those with probable OSA.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Age-Stratified Risk: The study found a stronger association between obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease in young adults (20-40) compared to older adults, indicating younger individuals with OSA are at a higher relative risk.
- Prevalence of OSA and Comorbidities: Approximately 51% of study participants had probable obstructive sleep apnea, with significant rates of hypertension (36.2%), diabetes (24.3%), high cholesterol (66.1%), and metabolic syndrome (48%) among them.
- Need for Early Screening: The researchers stress the importance of obstructive sleep apnea screening in primary care settings, particularly for younger adults, to enable early intervention and reduce the risk of developing serious cardiovascular conditions.
Obstructive sleep apnea is linked to an increased risk of heart disease in adults, even those younger than 40, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found.
Their study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, demonstrates a strong association between obstructive sleep apnea and the development of a wide range of heart-related conditions in adults of all ages.
“Our research highlights the need for OSA screening in primary care settings, especially for younger adults who can benefit the most from early intervention,” says study leader Bhaskar Thakur, PhD, assistant professor of family and community medicine, emergency medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and in the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern, in a release. “Discussion of sleep quality and a review of OSA symptoms should be a regular part of every adult patient’s annual physical, regardless of age.”
Study Analysis and Findings
UT Southwestern researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2013 and 2018, comprising 9,887 adults over the age of 20. Their analysis showed that individuals with self-reported obstructive sleep apnea symptoms—snoring, gasping, breath cessation while sleeping, or excessive daytime fatigue—had higher rates of cardiovascular disease such as angina, heart attack, or stroke.
They also had associated risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, or metabolic syndrome (the presence of three or more conditions that increase the risk of heart disease).
Approximately 51% of the study participants had probable obstructive sleep apnea. Among those, 36.2% had hypertension, 24.3% had diabetes, 66.1% had high cholesterol, and 48% had metabolic syndrome. Additionally, 8.6% reported having had a cardiovascular event or being diagnosed with heart disease.
Age-Specific Risks
The link between probable obstructive sleep apnea and an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease or risk factors was even stronger among individuals in the 20-40 age group than those 41 and above.
For example, young adults with obstructive sleep apnea had an adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) of 1.45 for hypertension, indicating they were 1.45 times more likely to have hypertension compared with young adults without obstructive sleep apnea. Similarly, the aPR for diabetes was 1.33, and for metabolic syndrome, it was 1.25, showing a significantly higher risk in young adults with obstructive sleep apnea.
In contrast, older adults with obstructive sleep apnea had lower aPRs: 1.10 for hypertension, 1.12 for diabetes, and 1.07 for metabolic syndrome, indicating a less pronounced but still elevated risk compared with older adults without obstructive sleep apnea.
Need for Increased Awareness
Young adults with obstructive sleep apnea were also three times more likely to have experienced a cardiovascular event than those without.
“The public tends to think of sleep apnea as simply ‘bad sleep’ that causes fatigue, but the implications are far more serious,” Thakur says in a release. “With obesity on the rise, the number of young adults with OSA is increasing, and without proper intervention, they are putting themselves at higher risk for a broad range of diseases and conditions.”
Although the exact nature of the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease is not known, UT Southwestern researchers are interested in continuing to study the link, especially among young adults.
“Our goal is to further investigate this relationship and increase the level of understanding and awareness about the risks of OSA,” Thakur says in a release.
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