SNORING AND RISK OF STROKE AND ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE IN A 70-YEAR-OLD POPULATION - A 6-YEAR FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Background, A number of studies have demonstrated an association betwe en habitual snoring and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Contro l for the influence of potential confounders has been inadequate. To c larify the issue we examined the association between snoring and futur e risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke while controlling f or the potential influence of major cardio- and cerebrovascular risk f actors. Methods. In all, 804 70 year old males and females were classi fied according to snoring habits. Alcohol and tobacco consumption, blo od pressure, body mass index, social group, plasma lipids (triglycerid es, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein), fasting blood glucose, pla sma epinephrine and norepinephrine were determined at baseline. Result s. Over a 6-year period (1984-1990) 88 suffered an IHD episode, 60 had a stroke and 180 died. A slightly higher stroke incidence was found a mong snorers (relative risk [RR] = 1.8; (95% confidence interval : 1.1 -3.6). When adjustments were made for the above confounders, no associ ations could be found between snoring and IHD, stroke or all-cause mor tality. Conclusions. In a 70 year old population, snoring is not assoc iated with an increased risk of IHD, stroke or all-cause mortality.