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Snoring, sleep apnea affect cardiac function earlier in women

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Adrian Curta

Women who snore or have obstructive sleep apnea had earlier cardiac function impairment compared with men, according to data presented at the Radiological Society of North America Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting.

“Our analysis showed that in females with snoring, there was an increase in left ventricular mass, meaning that the walls of the heart’s main pumping chamber are thickened, making the heart work harder,” Adrian Curta, MD, radiology resident at Munich University Hospital, said in a press release. “We also found that men showed an increase in the ejection fraction of both ventricles in the snoring group. Furthermore, females with the sleep apnea status showed significantly lower end diastolic volumes of the heart, which could be caused by an increased stiffening of the heart wall due to a remodeling process.”

Researchers analyzed cardiac MRI data from 4,978 patients from the UK Biobank who were free from CVD. Patients were categorized by the presence of disorders: with obstructive sleep apnea (n = 118), with self­-reported snoring (n = 1,886) and without obstructive sleep apnea or snoring (n = 2,477). Other information that was reviewed included ejection fraction, ventricular volumes and LV mass.

LV mass increased in a stepwise manner for both men and women (P < .001). After modifying for confounders, there was a positive correlation only for women who snored (beta = 0.77 g/m²; P = .038). Men also had stepwise increases in stroke volume, LV and right ventricular ejection fraction and LV end diastolic volume (P < .02).

Significant differences were also seen when patients with obstructive sleep apnea were compared with those who were unaffected. Left and right ventricular end diastolic volumes were lower in women vs. the unaffected group (beta = –4.9 mL/m²; P = .04; beta = –6.2 mL/m²; P = .016, respectively). After modifying for confounders, men with sleep apnea showed higher ejection fractions of the right ventricle (beta = 1.7%; P = .031).

“As this is a population-based study, these observations have to be validated in dedicated prospective studies,” Curta said during the presentation. – by Darlene Dobkowski

Curta A, et al. SSQ02-09. Presented at: Radiological Society of North America 104th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting; Nov. 25-30, 2018; Chicago.

Disclosure: Curta reports no relevant financial disclosures.