The interaction between hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea on subjective daytime sleepiness

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Patients With Hypertension: A Systematic Review

We must remember that there are many subclinical cases of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), even if the patient or family members typically become aware of it through symptoms such as snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). EDS is a common symptom among hypertensive patients. This interesting and remarkable systematic review aims to comprehensively survey the current literature on the prevalence and association of EDS among hypertensive patients. PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Science Direct were systematically searched for relevant literature. Rayyan QRCI (Rayyan Systems Inc., Cambridge, MA) was employed throughout this comprehensive process. This review included nine studies with a total of 58,517 patients, and 34,398 (58.8%) were males. EDS prevalence among hypertensive patients ranged from 12.1% to 88.3%. This review stated that individuals with hypertension (HTN) had EDS that was worse than that of patients with normotension. In one of the studies included in this analysis, sympathovagal imbalance was noted alongside EDS and HTN. Older age, primary education, being overweight, working, obesity, depression, and having had the condition for longer are all associated with EDS in HTN patients.

Residual excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with sleep apnea syndrome receiving continuous positive airway pressure in Japan: A single-center study

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is a symptom of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS). In some patients with SAS who undergo continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, EDS persists (residual EDS). However, knowledge of residual EDS in Japan is limited. Therefore, we examined EDS as defined by the Japanese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (a score of ≥11) before and after long-term (≥1 year) CPAP therapy in 490 patients with SAS. Good adherence to CPAP therapy was defined as its use for at least 4 h during 70% of the nights. The prevalence of residual EDS was 9.4%. Residual EDS was negatively associated with good adherence to CPAP therapy. Furthermore, the longer the CPAP therapy duration after initiation, the lower the prevalence of residual EDS. Therefore, the findings on the prevalence of residual EDS and its association with CPAP therapy in Japan are probably similar to those of other countries.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective cohort study

Background

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) have been associated with respiratory dysfunction during pregnancy and postpartum. In this study, we explored the associations between HDPs (gestational hypertension and preeclampsia) and the risk of incident asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during adulthood and the potential mediating role of chronic hypertension.

Methods

We included parous nurses in the Nurses' Health Study II reporting a pregnancy lasting no less than 6 months. The associations between HDPs and asthma and COPD were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for confounders.

Findings

We included 73,807 nurses [92.5% (68,246 of 73,807) White] in asthma analyses and 79,843 [92.4% (73,746 of 79,843) White] in COPD analyses, whose mean (SD, range) age, at baseline, were both 34.8 (4.7, 25.0-44.0) years. During 24 years of follow-up, we identified 2663 incident cases of asthma and 537 COPD. Compared with nurses without HDPs, nurses reporting HDPs had an increased HR for incident asthma and COPD of 1.22 (95% CI 1.10-1.36) and 1.39 (95% CI 1.11-1.74), respectively. The risk of asthma was similar when gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were assessed separately [HR = 1.25 (95% CI 1.08-1.43) and 1.24 (95% CI 1.11-1.38), respectively]. However, only nurses with preeclampsia had a higher risk of COPD (HR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.11-1.78). Mediation analyses estimated that chronic hypertension explained 18.6% (95% CI 8.9-35.0%) and 10.7% (95% CI 2.9-32.4%) of the associations between HDPs and asthma and COPD, respectively.

Interpretation

HDPs may serve as useful markers of increased susceptibility to chronic respiratory diseases during adulthood.

Funding

The National Institutes of Health grants.

Louis EK, Chahal AA, Schulte PJ, Mansukhani MP, Xie J, Lipford MC, Li N, Ramar K, Caples SM, Gay PC, Olson EJ, Silber MH, Li J, Somers VK. Sex-specific associations between daytime sleepiness, chronic diseases and mortality in obstructive sleep apnea

Objective

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is common in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and has been linked to adverse outcomes, albeit inconsistently. Furthermore, whether the prognostic impact of EDS differs as a function of sex is unclear. We aimed to assess the associations between EDS and chronic diseases and mortality in men and women with OSA.

Methods

Newly-diagnosed adult OSA patients who underwent sleep evaluation at Mayo Clinic between November 2009 and April 2017 and completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) for assessment of perceived sleepiness (N = 14,823) were included. Multivariable-adjusted regression models were used to investigate the relationships between sleepiness, with ESS modeled as a binary (ESS > 10) and as a continuous variable, and chronic diseases and all-cause mortality.

Results

In cross-sectional analysis, ESS > 10 was independently associated with lower risk of hypertension in male OSA patients (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76, 0.69-0.83) and with higher risk of diabetes mellitus in both OSA men (OR, 1.17, 95% CI 1.05-1.31) and women (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.10-1.45). Sex-specific curvilinear relations between ESS score and depression and cancer were noted. After a median 6.2 (4.5-8.1) years of follow-up, the hazard ratio for all-cause death in OSA women with ESS > 10 compared to those with ESS ≤ 10 was 1.24 (95% CI 1.05-1.47), after adjusting for demographics, sleep characteristics and comorbidities at baseline. In men, sleepiness was not associated with mortality.

Conclusion

The implications of EDS for morbidity and mortality risk in OSA are sex-dependent, with hypersomnolence being independently associated with greater vulnerability to premature death only in female patients. Efforts to mitigate mortality risk and restore daytime vigilance in women with OSA should be prioritized.

Higher Hospital Frailty Risk Score Is an Independent Predictor of In-Hospital Mortality in Hospitalized Older Adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Background: Frailty predisposes individuals to stressors, increasing morbidity and mortality risk. Therefore, this study examined the impact of frailty defined by the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) and other characteristics in older hospitalized patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using the National Inpatient Sample 2016 in patients ≥65 years old with OSA. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the impact of frailty on inpatient mortality. A Kaplan-Meier curve with a log-rank test was used to estimate survival time between frailty groups. Results: 182,174 discharge records of elderly OSA were included in the study. 54% of the cohort were determined to be a medium/high frailty risk, according to HFRS. In multivariable analysis, frailty was associated with a fourfold (medium frailty, adjusted odd ratio (aOR): 4.12, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 3.76−4.53, p-value < 0.001) and sixfold (high frailty, OR: 6.38, 95% CI: 5.60−7.27, p-value < 0.001) increased odds of mortality. Hospital survival time was significantly different between the three frailty groups (Log-rank test, p < 0.0001). Comorbidity burden defined by Charlson comorbidity Index (CCI) was associated with increased mortality (p < 0.001). Conclusion: More than half of the whole cohort was determined to be at medium and high frailty risk. Frailty was a significant predictor of in-hospital deaths in hospitalized OSA patients. Frailty assessment may be applicable for risk stratification of older hospitalized OSA patients.

Obstructive sleep apnea and associated factors among hypertensive patients attending a tertiary cardiac center in Tanzania: a comparative cross-sectional study

Background

There is mounting evidence for a reciprocal yet bidirectional association between sleep-disordered breathing and hypertension. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a common cause of systemic hypertension is an independent risk factor for hypertension-related cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In this comparative hospital-based cross-sectional study, we sought to explore the burden of obstructive sleep apnea and its associated risk factors among hypertensive patients attending Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute.

Methodology

A total of 1974 individuals (i.e. 1289 hypertensive and 685 normotensives) were consecutively enrolled in this study. The Berlin questionnaire and Epworth Sleepiness Scale were utilized in the assessment of OSA and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) respectively. Logistic regression analyses were employed in the determination of associated factors for OSA.

Results

The mean age was 53.4 years and females constituted the large majority (60.4%) of participants. About three quarters (74.1%) of participants had excess body weight, 11.6% had diabetes, 8.0% had asthma and 18.6% had history of recurrent nasal congestion. Positive family history of snoring was reported by 43.1% of participants and 36.9% had a personal history of snoring. Persons with hypertension displayed a higher frequency (42.1%) of OSA compared to their normotensive counterparts (11.8%), p < 0.001. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed hypertension (OR 5.1, 95% CI 3.2-8.2, p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-3.5, p < 0.01), chronic nasal congestion (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.5, p = 0.01), obesity (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8-3.3, p < 0.001), increased neck circumference (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2-6.4, p = 0.02), family history of snoring (OR 5.5, 95% CI 4.0-7.5, p < 0.001), and working > 8 h/24 h (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-1.0, p = 0.03) to have an independent association for OSA. Furthermore, participants with hypertension displayed superior odds for OSA compared to their normotensive counterparts across all subgroup analyses.

Conclusion

OSA is considerably common among patients with hypertension in a tertiary health care setting in Tanzania. Positive family history of snoring was the strongest associated factor; however, excess body weight proved to be the strongest modifiable risk factor. In view of its pervasiveness, OSA should be an integral part of the medical evaluation in hypertensive individuals.

Depression of Non-Neuronal Cholinergic System May Play a Role in Co-Occurrence of Subjective Daytime Sleepiness and Hypertension in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

PURPOSE

Simultaneous occurrence of hypertension and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is very common in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), although no study has specifically addressed this issue. The present study explored the risk factors for co-occurrence of OSAS-related EDS and hypertension.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 161 OSAS patients were studied after undergoing an eight-hour in-laboratory polysomnography for one night. The OSAS severity assessment depends on the number of breathing disturbances per hour of sleep. EDS was defined using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores of ≥13. Hypertension was defined according to direct cuff blood pressure (BP) measurements. Beat-to-beat R-R interval data were incorporated in polysomnography for heart rate variability analysis. The low-frequency/high-frequency band ratio was used to reflect sympathovagal balance. The study participants were divided into four groups based on the presence of EDS and/or hypertension: EDS with hypertension (n = 53), EDS without hypertension (n = 27), no EDS with hypertension (n = 38), and no EDS or hypertension (n = 43). Clinical, polysomnographic and heart rate data were compared and studied among the four groups. Plasma acetylcholine (ACh) levels were assessed to explore the effects of the non-neuronal cholinergic system and the co-occurrence of EDS and hypertension.

RESULTS

Patients with EDS and hypertension had more severe OSAS severity indices compared to control patients. Increased cardiac sympathovagal imbalance and nocturnal hypoxemia regulated the presence of EDS and hypertension. Further plasma biomarker analysis revealed that both ESS scores and BP levels were associated with significantly elevated plasma norepinephrine, interleukin-6 and superoxide dismutase levels and significantly decreased ACh levels. Logistic regression analyses showed that ACh was the only factor significantly associated with co-occurrence of EDS and hypertension after controlling for confounders using odds ratio of 0.932, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.868 to 1.000 (P = 0.049).

CONCLUSION

The results suggested that OSAS coupled with both EDS and hypertension is a more severe phenotype of the respiratory disorder. The presence of EDS and hypertension was accompanied by sympathovagal imbalance, and co-occurrence of these two conditions may be related to decreased plasma ACh levels.

Daytime sleepiness and risk of stroke: A Mendelian randomization analysis

OBJECTIVE

Daytime sleepiness is known to be related to stroke, but whether daytime sleepiness is a risk factor for stroke remains unclear. We conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization study to assess the relationship between daytime sleepiness and stroke, ischemic stroke (IS) and IS subtypes.

METHODS

Thirty-six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with daytime sleepiness were selected as instrumental variables, which were identified from a recent genome-wide association study(N = 452,071). Summary statistics of the SNPs on stroke, IS and IS subtypes were derived from the MEGASTROKE consortium with 40,585 stroke cases and 406,111 controls.

RESULTS

We found that daytime sleepiness was associated with large artery stroke (OR, 6.75; 95%CI, 1.49-30.57; p = 0.013), but not with all stroke (OR, 1.29; 95%CI, 0.81-2.05; p = 0.282), all ischemic stroke(OR, 1.46; 95%CI, 0.90-2.39; p = 0.136), cardioembolic stroke(OR, 1.0; 95%CI, 0.39-2.64; p = 0.984), or small artery stroke(OR, 1.52; 95%CI, 0.46-5.05; p = 0.485).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicated that daytime sleepiness is causally associated with an increased risk of large artery stroke. Further studies are necessary to verify our results and explain the physiological mechanisms.

The role of sleep disturbances in cognitive function and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling elderly with sleep complaints

OBJECTIVE

The relationships between sleep problems, cognitive impairments, and depression have been established in the aging population. However, less is known about the role of late-life onset insomnia and sex involved in these dyad or tripartite relationships. This study aimed to consider onset age of insomnia and sex in the relationship between sleep parameters, cognition and depression among older adults with current insomnia complaints.

METHOD

A multistep sampling method was adopted to recruit participants with current insomnia complaints in China in 2018. Sleep measures include onset age of insomnia (64 years old or before vs during/after 65), three factors from insomnia severity index (ISI; nighttime, daytime, and perception), excessive daytime sleepiness, and sleep duration. Outcome measures were mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and center for epidemiologic studies depression scale (CESD).

RESULTS

The average age of older adults was 75 (SD = 7.1). Among them, 62% participants are female. In general, older aged, female, late-life onset insomnia as well as interaction of sex * onset age of insomnia were significantly associated with poorer cognition. Yet, age, sex, and onset age of insomnia were not significant indicators for depression. For female participants, later onset of insomnia, nighttime symptoms of insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness and depression were risk factors for cognitive decline. Nevertheless, only daytime sleepiness, together with depression, were found positively associated with male participants' cognitive decline.

CONCLUSIONS

There were robust associations between daytime sleepiness, depressive symptoms, and poor cognitive performance. More importantly, late-life onset insomnia was particularly indicative for poor cognitive performance among female older adults. Future study should emphasize the specific mechanism involved in changes of sleep patterns in the development of cognitive impairment among older adults. Sex differences in the relationship between onset age of insomnia and cognition also require further attention.

The rate of decrease in oxygen desaturation during severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is correlated with subjective excessive daytime sleepiness

PURPOSE

To explore factors that influence subjective excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

METHODS

Patients with snoring seen at the Sleep Medicine Center of The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University between October 2018 and November 2019 were included in this study. All patients underwent polysomnography (PSG). Noninvasive frequency-domain analysis was used to assess the autonomic nervous system regulation of the heart, with the low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) power ratio used to represent the sympathetic-parasympathetic balance. Daytime sleepiness was evaluated by the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). Overnight apnea episodes were included for analyses. The rate of pulse oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO₂) decrease was measured as the change in the percentage of SpO₂ per second after obstructive apnea and was expressed as the oxygen desaturation rate (ODR).

RESULTS

A total of 101 patients with severe OSAS were enrolled in this study and were further divided into two groups: the EDS group (ESS > 10, n = 52) and the non-EDS group (ESS ≤ 10, n = 49). The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), respiratory effort-related arousals (RERAs), and LF/HF power ratio were significantly higher in the EDS group than in the non-EDS group (AHI: 69.9 ± 14.5 vs. 57.9 ± 16.1 events/h; RERAs: 42.2 ± 16.7 vs. 30.4 ± 13.7 events/h; LF/HF power ratio: 2.9 ± 0.8% vs. 2.4 ± 0.9%, all p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that after adjusting for covariates expected to affect this relationship, ESS scores were correlated with ODR (β = 0.520, p < 0.001) and LF/HF power ratio (β = 0.155, p = 0.028), rather than with the traditional sleep-disordered breathing parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with the traditional PSG parameters, both ODR and an increased LF/HF power ratio were more closely related to daytime sleepiness, especially ODR.

Clinical and polysomnographic features of hypertension in obstructive sleep apnea: A single-center cross-sectional study

Objective:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with elevated blood pressure (BP) and increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to determine the clinical and polysomnographic features of OSA that are significantly associated with hypertension (HT).

Methods:

This is a prospective study that enrolled patients diagnosed with OSA in Ankara University Faculty of Medicine from January 2015 to June 2016. The patients were categorized into normotensives (n=125) and hypertensives (n=141). BP was taken at the evening before and the morning after polysomnography (PSG). The polysomnographic findings of normotensive and hypertensive patients were compared, and independent risk factors that are associated with HT were analyzed.

Results:

Hypertensive patients exhibited older age and higher Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), mean apnea duration, arousal index, and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) than normotensive patients. Nocturnal oxygen desaturation (NOD) was more frequent and the percentage of the duration of NOD to total sleep time (TST) was higher in hypertensive than normotensive patients. Multivariate analyses revealed that age (OR: 1.095, 95% CI 1.053 to 1.139, p<0.001), ESS (OR: 1.186, 95% CI 1.071 to 1.313, p=0.001), mean apnea duration (OR: 1.072, 95% CI 1.032 to 1.113, p=0.002), ODI (OR: 1.062, 95% CI 1.025 to 1.101, p=0.001), and NOD (OR: 2.439, 95% CI 1.170 to 5.086, p=0.017) were independent risk factors for HT in OSA.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that age, ESS, parameters of oxygenation, and apnea duration were associated with HT in patients with OSA. Hence, patients with OSA with these findings should be evaluated for HT.