Obstructive sleep apnea negatively impacts objectively measured physical activity

The causality between leisure sedentary behaviors, physical activity and obstructive sleep apnea: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Background

Previous observational studies have shown a correlation between leisure sedentary behaviors (LSB) and physical activity (PA) with the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the causal associations remain unknown. Therefore, our study used bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to identify potential causal relationships between LSB/PA and OSA.

Methods

We sourced genetic variation data for LSB and PA from the UK Biobank, while data on OSA were collected from the FinnGen study. The primary analysis method employed was the inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach, complemented by the weighted median and MR-Egger methods. For sensitivity analyses, we conducted Cochran's Q test, the MR-Egger intercept test, the MR-PRESSO global test, and the leave-one-out analysis.

Results

IVW analyses showed that genetically predicted leisure television watching (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-1.75, p = 0.007) and computer use (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.15-1.92, p = 0.002) significantly increased the risk of OSA. Conversely, self-reported vigorous physical activity (VPA) (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.11-0.98, p = 0.046) may reduce the risk of OSA. No causal effects on OSA risk were observed for driving or self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Furthermore, the reverse MR analysis indicated no significant causal relationship between OSA and any LSB/PA phenotype. Sensitivity tests showed no significant heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy.

Conclusion

This study suggests that leisurely television watching and computer use are risk factors for OSA, while VPA may be a protective factor. Additionally, OSA does not affect PA or LSB levels. We recommend reducing sedentary activities, particularly television watching and computer use, and prioritizing VPA to reduce the risk of OSA. Further research in diverse populations and settings is needed to validate these findings.

Determinants of physical activity in newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea patients: testing the health action process approach

This study aims to identify the determinants associated with physical activity (PA) behavior in newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients by applying the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) with a longitudinal design. Anthropometric and clinical (OSA severity, subjective somnolence, use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)) variables, the determinants of physical activity specified in the HAPA (motivational self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, risk perception, intention, maintenance self-efficacy, action planning, coping planning, social support), as well as physical activity behavior were assessed using a longitudinal (T1 and T2) design in a sample of 57 OSA patients in routine care. Applying regression analyses, regarding the motivation phase, the amount of explained variance in intention was 77% and 39% of the variance in physical activity. In the motivational phase, motivational self-efficacy, risk perception and outcome expectancies were associated with intention. In the volitional phase, physical activity at T1 and social support (family) were related with physical activity at T2. In conclusion, the assumptions of HAPA were partially found in the context of newly diagnosed OSA patients. This study provided additional evidence regarding the role of motivational self-efficacy, outcome expectancies and risk perception during motivational phase, and highlighted the important role of social support from the family in the PA in this population.

Increased sedentary time and decreased physical activity increases lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 in obese individuals

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Lipoprotein-associated Phospholipase A₂ (Lp-PLA₂) is a protein produced by inflammatory cells in circulation and is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Physical activity (PA) is known to reduce inflammation and risk for CVD. However, Lp-PLA₂ has yet to be examined in relation to PA and sedentary time. The purpose of this study was to determine if PA and sedentary time impacts Lp-PLA₂ mass. A total of 25 subjects with an average BMI of 30.6 ± 5.7 were included in the data analysis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Data collected included anthropometric data, Lp-PLA₂ mass, peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak), resting heart rate and blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk, and assessment of PA using an accelerometer. Sedentary minutes per day was positively associated with Lp-PLA₂ (r = 0.41, P < 0.05). Light intensity PA was negatively associated (r = -0.51. P = 0.01) with Lp-PLA₂. When subjects were divided into 2-quantiles by Lp-PLA₂, the group with the higher Lp-PLA₂ mass accumulated more sedentary time per day (P < 0.001) and less light intensity PA per day (P = 0.001). OSA risk and Lp-PLA₂ showed no relationship. Sedentary behavior was higher, and light intensity PA was lower in subjects with hiLp-PLA₂ mass. No difference was seen in moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA or steps per day.

CONCLUSIONS

This suggests that, total PA habits, including time spent sedentary and lower intensity PA, impacts the levels of Lp-PLA₂, an important inflammatory marker and marker of CVD risk.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies suggesting that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) have been limited by reliance on administrative data and lack of adjustment for clinical variables, including obesity.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Does OSA confer an independent risk of incident VTE among a large clinical cohort referred for sleep disordered breathing evaluation?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We analyzed the clinical outcomes of 31,309 patients undergoing overnight polysomnography within a large hospital system. We evaluated the association of OSA severity with incident VTE using Cox proportional hazards modeling accounting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and common comorbid conditions.

RESULTS

Patients were of mean age 50.4 years and 50.1% female. There were 1,791 VTE events identified over a mean follow-up of 5.3 years. In age and sex-adjusted analyses, each 10 event/hr increase in the apnea hypopnea index (AHI) was associated with a 4% increase in incident VTE risk (hazard ratio [HR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.05). After adjusting for BMI, this association disappeared (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99-1.03). In contrast, nocturnal hypoxemia had an independent association with incident VTE. Patients with >50% sleep time spent with oxyhemoglobin saturation <90% are at 48% increased VTE risk compared to those without nocturnal hypoxemia (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.16-1.69).

INTERPRETATION

In this large cohort, we found that patients with more severe OSA as measured by the AHI are more likely to have incident VTE. Adjusted analyses suggest that this association is explained due to confounding by obesity. However, severe nocturnal hypoxemia may be a mechanism by which OSA heightens VTE risk.

Higher Physical Activity Is Related to Lower Neck Adiposity in Young Men, but to Higher Neck Adiposity in Young Women: An Exploratory Study

The role of lifestyle behaviors on neck adipose tissue (NAT), a fat depot that appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of different cardiometabolic diseases and in inflammatory status, is unknown. In this cross-sectional and exploratory study, the authors examined the relationship between sedentary time and physical activity (PA) with neck adiposity in young adults. A total of 134 subjects (69% women, 23 ± 2 years) were enrolled. The time spent in sedentary behavior and PA of different intensity were objectively measured for 7 consecutive days (24 hr/day), using a wrist (nondominant)-worn accelerometer. The NAT volume was assessed using computed tomography, and the compartmental (subcutaneous, intermuscular, and perivertebral) and total NAT volumes were determined at the level of vertebra C5. Anthropometric indicators and body composition (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) were determined. The time spent in light physical activity and moderate physical activity (MPA) and the overall PA were inversely associated with the intermuscular NAT volume in men, as were the MPA and overall PA with total NAT volume (all ps ≤ .04). Sedentary time was directly related to the total NAT volume (p = .04). An opposite trend was observed in women, finding a direct relationship of MPA with the subcutaneous NAT; of light physical activity, MPA, and overall PA with the perivertebral NAT; and of light physical activity with total NAT volumes (all ps ≤ .05). The observed associations were weak, and after adjusting for multiplicity, the results became nonsignificant (p > .05). These findings suggest that the specific characteristics of PA (time and intensity) might have sex-dependent implications in the accumulation of NAT.

Shorter Sleep Predicts Longer Subsequent Day Sedentary Duration in Healthy Midlife Adults, but Not in Those with Sleep Apnea

PURPOSE

Sedentary behavior and suboptimal sleep increase risks for chronic diseases. We hypothesized that sedentary behavior and sleep affect each other and that an underlying sleep disorder would alter these relationships. To test these hypotheses, we studied the bidirectional relationships between sedentary behavior and sleep (duration and efficiency) in healthy controls (HC) and people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty-two volunteers (18 HC, 19 mild OSA [apnea/hypopnea index [AHI] range 5-14.9/hour], 15 moderate OSA [AHI range 15-29.9/hour]) were studied with actigraphy and sleep diaries across ~9 consecutive nights of self-selected consistent ~8-hour sleep episodes at home (range 4-21/nights per person). We analyzed whether total time asleep and sleep efficiency affected the subsequent daytime sedentary duration while controlling for body mass index and whether the severity of OSA altered this relationship. We also tested the reverse relationship, namely whether daytime sedentary duration affected the subsequent night's sleep and if any such relationship differed with OSA severity.

RESULTS

Overnight sleep duration and efficiency negatively predicted the subsequent day's sedentary duration in HC (p<0.02), but not in people with mild or moderate OSA (p>0.05). There was no significant reverse relationship between daytime sedentary duration and the subsequent night's sleep duration or efficiency (p≥0.2).

CONCLUSION

In healthy adults, short nighttime sleep predicts a longer duration of sedentary behavior on a subsequent day, but we did not observe this relationship in people with OSA. The mechanisms underlying this association in healthy individuals and its disruption in the presence of OSA need to be studied.

Physical Activity in Overlap Syndrome of COPD and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Relationship With Markers of Systemic Inflammation

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Low physical activity (PA) is associated with poor health outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Overlap syndrome (OVS), the co-occurrence of COPD and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), is highly prevalent. Little is known about PA in OVS, and its relationship with markers of systemic inflammation.

METHODS

We studied 256 persons with stable COPD, 61 (24%) of whom had OVS, who were well characterized in two previous PA studies. PA was directly assessed with the Omron HJ-720ITC pedometer. C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were assayed from peripheral blood. Linear regression models, adjusting for age and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) % predicted, assessed daily step counts and CRP and IL-6 levels in OVS, compared to COPD alone. Linear regression models, adjusting for age, FEV1 % predicted, and coronary artery disease, assessed the relationships between PA and CRP and IL-6 in those with OVS versus those with COPD alone.

RESULTS

Compared to COPD alone, persons with OVS walked 672 fewer steps per day (95% CI -1,317 to -28, P = .041). Those with OVS had significantly higher levels of CRP and IL-6 compared to COPD alone. In OVS, each 1,000 fewer steps walked was associated with a 0.875 ng/mL (95% CI 0.767 to 0.997) increase in IL-6, independent of lung function.

CONCLUSIONS

Persons with OVS have significantly lower levels of PA and higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers, compared to COPD alone. Lower PA is significantly associated with higher IL-6 levels in OVS.

Genetic influences on the onset of obstructive sleep apnoea and daytime sleepiness: a twin study

Background

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is one of the major sources of the excessive daily sleepiness, cognitive dysfunction, and it increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Previous studies suggested a possible genetic influence, based on questionnaires but no objective genetic study was conducted to understand the exact variance underpinned by genetic factors.

Methods

Seventy-one Hungarian twin pairs involved from the Hungarian Twin Registry (48 monozygotic, MZ and 23 dizygotic, DZ pairs, mean age 51 ± 15 years) underwent overnight polysomnography (Somnoscreen Plus Tele PSG, Somnomedics GMBH, Germany). Apnoea hypopnea index (AHI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were registered. Daytime sleepiness was measured with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Bivariate heritability analysis was applied.

Results

The prevalence of OSA was 41% in our study population. The heritability of the AHI, ODI and RDI ranged between 69% and 83%, while the OSA, defined by an AHI ≥5/h, was itself 73% heritable. The unshared environmental component explained the rest of the variance between 17% and 31%. Daytime sleepiness was mostly determined by the environment, and the variance was influenced in 34% by the additive genetic factors. These associations were present after additional adjustment for body mass index.

Conclusion

OSA and the indices of OSA severity are heritable, while daytime sleepiness is mostly influenced by environmental factors. Further studies should elucidate whether close relatives of patients with OSA may benefit from early family risk based screening.