title: Association of obstructive sleep apnoea with subclinical coronary atherosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Accumulating evidence suggests a role of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) as a risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis. This study aimed i) to assess the prevalence of OSA in the general population and ii) to analyse the association of this disorder with traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional analysis of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study a subgroup of 1604 subjects (791 men, age 50-80 years) underwent OSA screening. Furthermore, coronary artery calcium (CAC) was measured. OSA was defined as apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) ≥ 15/h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OSA was observed in 29.1% of men and 15.6% of women. In a multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for risk factors AHI was associated with CAC in men aged ≤65 years (estimated log-transformed increase of CAC = 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.001-0.50, p = 0.051) and in women of any age (estimated log-transformed increase = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.04-0.41, p = 0.02). Doubling of the AHI was associated with a 19% increase of CAC in men aged ≤65 years and with a 17% increase in women of any age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the general population aged ≥50 years OSA is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in men aged ≤65 years and in women of any age, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, Ruhrlandklinik, West German Lung Center, University Clinic Essen, Tüschener Weg 40, D-45239 Essen, Germany. Electronic address: gerhard.weinreich@ruhrlandklinik.uk-essen.de.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weinreich
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Wessendorf
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erdmann
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moebus
authors.forename: Nico
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dragano
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stang
authors.forename: Ulla
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Roggenbuck
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jöckel
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Erbel
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teschler
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Möhlenkamp
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium
keywords: Coronary artery calcium; Heinz Nixdorf Recall study; Obstructive sleep apnoea; Sleep-disordered breathing; Subclinical atherosclerosis