Causal associations of sleep apnea, snoring with cardiovascular diseases, and the role of body mass index: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors' conclusion
Our results suggest that SA and snoring increased the risk of hypertension and CAD, and these associations may partly be driven by BMI. Conversely, no evidence of CVDs causally influencing SA or snoring was found.
Study context
- Population
- GWAS combining five cohorts (25,008 sleep apnea (SA) cases, 172,050 snoring cases)
- Participants
- 523,366 participants · 5 cohorts
- Comparison
- Genetically predicted SA or snoring vs cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)
- Outcome
- Causal effect of SA or snoring on CVDs (hypertension, CAD, AF, HF, stroke)
Methodological detailsbi-directional, multivariable Mendelian randomization (MR) adjusting for body mass index (BMI)
- Bi-directional
- Multivariable MR adjusting for BMI
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
SA and snoring → hypertension and CAD (inverse-variance weighted (IVW))
Odds ratio (95% CI)
SAhypertension; FDR < 0.05
1.03(1.02–1.05)
Snoringhypertension; FDR < 0.05
1.05(1.03–1.07)
SACAD; FDR < 0.05
1.41(1.19–1.67)
SnoringCAD; FDR < 0.05
1.61(1.26–2.07)
Further findings
Hypertension → SA (reverse direction)
| Comparison | OR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|
| HypertensionDid not pass multiple comparisons (FDR > 0.05) | 1.53 (1.04–2.25) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
SA/snoring → hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD) after BMI adjustment (MVMR-IVW)
- Associations decreased dramatically after adjusting for BMI
- 0.06 < FDRBMI adjusted < 0.20
Original publication
Causal associations of sleep apnea, snoring with cardiovascular diseases, and the role of body mass index: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 5 January 2023. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it