IMPACT OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA AND SLEEPINESS ON METABOLIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS IN THE SWEDISH OBESE SUBJECTS (SOS) STUDY

OBJECTIVE: To determine if obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is independen tly associated with cardiovascular risk factors and health status in s ubjects with severe obesity. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of epide miological data. SUBJECTS: 3034 participants in the Swedish Obese Subj ects (SOS) Cohort. Two sub-groups with a high and low likelihood for O SA based on questionnaire data were analysed in detail. MEASUREMENTS: General health questionnaires, anthropometric data including CT calibr ated values for body fat distribution and lean body mass, blood pressu re, fasting insulin, triglycerides, cholesterol, uric acid, glucose. R ESULTS: Self-reported loud snoring and observed breathing pauses (high likelihood of OSA) was associated with increased frequency of WHO Gra de 4 dyspnea, admissions to hospital with chest pain, myocardial infar ction, blood pressure, fasting insulin, fasting triglyceride (women on ly), uric acid (women only) after adjustment for body fat distribution and other potential confounders. CONCLUSION: OSA may be another medic al disorder which contributes to morbidity in severe obesity and is as sociated with some of the components of the metabolic syndrome observe d in the centrally obese.