Dr. Adams
08-22-2009, 12:04 PM
"Moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk for all-cause mortality, particularly in middle-aged men.
Furthermore, the researchers found that as little as 11 minutes a night — just 2% of an average night's sleep of 7 hours — with severe sleep apnea and subsequent oxygen deprivation doubled the death rate in men.
...sleep apnea is a risk factor for mortality independent of other major risk factors including age, hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes, and that this risk seems to be most prominent among men between age[s of] 40 and 70 [years. However, this does not mean women are not at risk; it's just that in our study, despite having 8 years of follow-up, there was not a sufficient number of cases of sleep apnea or deaths among women to detect an effect.
Although sleep apnea is very common, it is seriously underdiagnosed. Estimates show that approximately 9% of women and 24% of men in the general population have sleep-disordered breathing. Yet research shows that up to 80% cases go undiagnosed.
Previous research from clinic-based studies has shown a link between sleep-disordered breathing and increased all-cause and cause-related mortality. It has also been linked to an increased risk for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and stroke.
Sleep-disordered breathing was assessed with the apnea-hypopnea index on the basis of an in-home polysomnogram that lasted an average of 7 hours.
...decreased oxygen levels caused by sleep-disordered breathing appear to be an important culprit that triggers multiple deleterious mechanisms.
These individuals chronically experience repetitive cycles of decreased oxygen during sleep, which over time sets up a cascade of pathophysiological events through a number of physiological systems....oxygen deprivation stimulates sympathetic nerve activity, increasing adrenaline and noradrenaline, predisposing individuals to hypertension and also possibly exacerbating preexisting heart disease.
PLoS Med. Published online August 17, 2009.
Furthermore, the researchers found that as little as 11 minutes a night — just 2% of an average night's sleep of 7 hours — with severe sleep apnea and subsequent oxygen deprivation doubled the death rate in men.
...sleep apnea is a risk factor for mortality independent of other major risk factors including age, hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes, and that this risk seems to be most prominent among men between age[s of] 40 and 70 [years. However, this does not mean women are not at risk; it's just that in our study, despite having 8 years of follow-up, there was not a sufficient number of cases of sleep apnea or deaths among women to detect an effect.
Although sleep apnea is very common, it is seriously underdiagnosed. Estimates show that approximately 9% of women and 24% of men in the general population have sleep-disordered breathing. Yet research shows that up to 80% cases go undiagnosed.
Previous research from clinic-based studies has shown a link between sleep-disordered breathing and increased all-cause and cause-related mortality. It has also been linked to an increased risk for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and stroke.
Sleep-disordered breathing was assessed with the apnea-hypopnea index on the basis of an in-home polysomnogram that lasted an average of 7 hours.
...decreased oxygen levels caused by sleep-disordered breathing appear to be an important culprit that triggers multiple deleterious mechanisms.
These individuals chronically experience repetitive cycles of decreased oxygen during sleep, which over time sets up a cascade of pathophysiological events through a number of physiological systems....oxygen deprivation stimulates sympathetic nerve activity, increasing adrenaline and noradrenaline, predisposing individuals to hypertension and also possibly exacerbating preexisting heart disease.
PLoS Med. Published online August 17, 2009.