Snoring and associated conditions

Q: Which of the following (so far) is NOT found to be associated with snoring (Obstructive Sleep Apnea- OSA)? - Select one

A) Carotid atherosclerosis

B) Hypertension

C) Ischemic heart disease 

Answer: C

Although conventionally it is believed that patients with snoring, either due to OSA or simple upper airway narrowing, will develop ischemic heart disease, evidence has failed to show such an association.

In contrast, carotid atherosclerosis and hypertension are found to be very well associated with snoring.

#sleep

#ENT

#pulmonary

#cardiology

References:

1. Yeboah J, Redline S, Johnson C, et al. Association between sleep apnea, snoring, incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in an adult population: MESA. Atherosclerosis 2011; 219:963.

2. Marshall NS, Wong KK, Cullen SR, et al. Snoring is not associated with all-cause mortality, incident cardiovascular disease, or stroke in the Busselton Health Study. Sleep 2012; 35:1235.

3. Jennum P, Hein HO, Suadicani P, Gyntelberg F. Risk of ischemic heart disease in self-reported snorers. A prospective study of 2,937 men aged 54 to 74 years: the Copenhagen Male Study. Chest 1995; 108:138.