title: Patients with venous thromboembolism appear to have higher prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea than the general population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The link between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains unclear. We sought to study a possible association between VTE and OSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively collected data on patients with VTE between 1999 and 2009. Data on demographics and comorbidities were recorded as well as body mass index was calculated. Primary outcome was prevalence of OSA defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01051297).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 840 patients with VTE. Obstructive sleep apnea was confirmed in 130 (15.5% [13%-17.9%]). Compared to the control group (no OSA), those who had OSA were more obese (83.8% vs 43.8%) and had statistically higher prevalence of diabetes, coronary artery disease, and congestive heart failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of OSA 15.5% (13%-17.9%) appears to be higher than that of the general population among patients with VTE. Our findings suggest a possible link between OSA and VTE.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary/Critical Care and Environmental Medicine, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bosanquet
authors.forename: Brett C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Bade
authors.forename: Maryam F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Zia
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karo
authors.forename: Oudai
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Ousama
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dabbagh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult