Smoking linked to OSA, possible risk factor

MONTREAL — Smoking appeared strongly associated with obstructive sleep apnea and various risk factors for the sleep disorder, according to results of a cross sectional study presented at CHEST Annual Meeting 2015.

“Obstructive sleep apnea is often under-diagnosed and frequently associated with a wide range of comorbidities, some of them can be considered medical consequences of OSA. Smoking is related with the severity of OSA,” Mihaela Trenchea, MD, of Constanta Clinical Pneumology Hospital in Romania, told Healio.com/Pulmonology. “Chronic smoking associated with OSA has impact on increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.”

Trenchea and colleagues conducted a cross sectional study of OSA in adults who complained about sleep from Oct. 2011 to June 2012 to assess the link between smoking, snoring, OSA and related comorbidities.

Patients referred for snoring and sleep disordered breathing underwent attended nocturnal cardiorespiratory poligraphy. Using the guidelines of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the researchers assessed severity criteria of OSA and quantified BMI and tobacco use.

Eighty-nine adults (mean age 52.43 years, 73% men) reported night time symptoms and day time sleepiness using a self-reported questionnaire.

Twenty six adults identified themselves as current smokers, while 27 listed themselves as former smokers and 36 as non-smokers.

Twenty-seven patients were diagnosed with OSA during the study period, 77.78% of which actively smoked.

Risk factors for OSA — obesity, increased neck circumference, and craniofacial abnormalities — all correlated with smoking (P < .007).

Trenchea told Healio.com/Pulmonology physicians should test all smokers for OSA.

“All patients with sleep behavior disorders should be screened for smoking and smokers for OSA,” she said. “Because the risk of OSA being 2.5 times higher in smokers than in former smokers and non-smokers, tobacco cessation must be recommended to all smokers.” – by Ryan McDonald

For more information:

Trenchea M, et al. Abstract 202642. Presented at: CHEST Annual Meeting 2015; Oct. 24-28; Montreal.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.