title: Cross-sectional Association between Walking Pace and Sleep-disordered Breathing.
abstract: Sleep-disordered breathing is an important comorbidity for several diseases, including stroke. Initial screening tools comprise simple yes/no questions about known risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing, e.g., obesity, sex. But walking speed has not been investigated in this context. We examined the cross-sectional association between walking pace and sleep-disordered breathing in the population-level Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. A sample of 2912 men and 3213 women (46-87 years) reported perceived walking pace outside their homes. A walking pace<0.89 m/s was deemed "slow", with ≥ 0.89 m/s considered "average/brisk" according to validated thresholds. Sample prevalences were: sleep apnoea (3.5%), self-reported apnoeas (8.4%), loud snoring (20.5%), daytime tiredness (22.2%) and slow-walking pace (26.9%). The 95% CI risk differences (multivariable-adjusted) for slow vs. faster walking pace were; sleep apnoea (0.4-2.5%), self-reported apnoeas (0.1-3.8%), loud snoring (1.2-8.3%), and daytime tiredness (3.0-7.8%). Risk differences were similar between sexes. The multivariable-adjusted risk ratio indicated that slower walkers had 1.5 (95% CI: 1.0 to 2.1) times the risk of sleep apnoea vs. faster walkers. In conclusion, a slower walking speed was associated with a greater prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing, independently from other common screening factors. Therefore, a simple walking speed question may help consolidate screening for this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Health and Social Care Institute, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Suri
authors.affiliation: Department of Academic Anaesthesia, The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Batterham
authors.affiliation: Health and Social Care Institute, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ells
authors.affiliation: Department of Academic Anaesthesia, The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Danjoux
authors.affiliation: Health and Social Care Institute, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Atkinson
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking