Association between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Variation by Age, Sex, and Race. The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Rationale: The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is complex, bidirectional, and may vary across groups. Understanding which cardiovascular risk factors vary in their relationship to OSA across population groups may improve knowledge of OSA-related CVD susceptibility.

Objectives: To better understand the heterogeneity of associations, we assessed whether associations of OSA with cardiovascular risk factors vary by age, sex, and race/ethnicity.

Methods: We performed cross-sectional analyses of 1,344 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants who underwent overnight full polysomnography, assays of fasting blood, and assessments of cardiovascular risk factors. Risk factors considered were blood pressure, glucose/lipid concentrations, white blood cell (WBC) total and subset counts, and cystatin C. The outcome was the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Linear regression analyses with tests for interactions were conducted.

Results: The sample had a mean age of 68 ± 9 years. Forty-seven percent of the sample was male, and 32% had moderate or severe OSA (AHI, ≥15). Multivariable adjusted analysis showed significant associations between higher AHI with lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and higher diastolic blood pressure and neutrophil counts. Significant interactions with demographic factors were observed. Stronger associations were shown between AHI and higher total WBC count (P = 0.006) and glucose concentrations (P = 0.006) in younger (<65 yr) than in older individuals, higher triglyceride concentrations in men than in women (P = 0.006), and higher total WBC (P = 0.07) and monocyte counts (P = 0.03) in African American individuals than in other racial groups.

Conclusions: In a multiethnic cohort, we found increased levels of cardiovascular risk factors in association with OSA, including elevated neutrophil counts, a marker of inflammation. Furthermore, several associations were stronger in men, younger individuals, and African American individuals, highlighting pathways for CVD risk that may explain heterogeneity in the associations between CVD and OSA across population groups.