title: Association of self-reported snoring with carotid artery intima-media thickness and plaque.
abstract: Previous studies have suggested that self-reported snoring is associated with atherosclerotic vascular diseases. However, the role of self-reported snoring as an independent risk factor for subclinical atherosclerosis has not been well established. This study aimed to evaluate whether and to what extent self-reported snoring is associated with subclinical carotid atherosclerosis after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Carotid intima-media thickness and plaque were investigated with ultrasonography in 1245 urban Chinese aged 50-79 years between September 2007 and November 2007. Information on self-reported snoring and measurements of traditional cardiovascular risk factors was also collected. A total of 1050 participants were involved in the final analysis. The prevalence of self-reported snoring habitually (snoring frequency ≥5 days per week) was 31.5, and 64.3% of the participants in this population had a history of snoring. The mean values of the maximum intima-media thickness of bifurcation and common carotid arteries in snorers were significantly higher than in non-snorers (1.08 ± 0.14 mm versus 1.04 ± 0.14 mm, P < 0.001, in carotid bifurcation; 1.03 ± 0.15 mm versus 1.00 ± 0.15 mm, P = 0.002, in common carotid artery). After adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio of self-reported snoring habitually for increased intima-media thickness and carotid bifurcation plaque was 1.71 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-2.39; P = 0.002] and 3.63 (95% CI: 2.57-5.12; P < 0.001), respectively. In conclusion, the current study suggested that self-reported snoring is associated significantly with carotid bifurcation intima-media thickness and the presence of plaque, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Capital Medical University Affiliated Beijing Anzhen Hospital and Beijing Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Diseases, No. 2 Anzhen Street, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Guanghua
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiayi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012913:Snoring / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography