Physical Inactivity Is Associated with Moderate-Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether low levels of physical activity were associated with an increased occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), OSA-related symptoms, and cardiometabolic risk.


METHODS
A case-control study design was used. OSA cases were patients referred to a sleep clinic for suspected OSA (n = 2,340). Controls comprised participants from the Busselton community (n = 1,931). Exercise and occupational activity were derived from questionnaire data. Associations were modelled using logistic and linear regression and adjusted for confounders.


RESULTS
In comparison with moderate exercise, the high, low, and nil exercise groups had an odds ratio (OR) for moderate-severe OSA of 0.6 (95% CI 0.5-0.8), 1.6 (95% CI 1.2-2.0), and 2.7 (95% CI 1.9-3.7), respectively. Relative to men in heavy activity occupations, men in medium, light and sedentary occupations had an OR for moderate-severe OSA of 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.5), 2.1 (95% CI 1.4-3.2), and 1.8 (95% CI 1.2-2.8), respectively. Relative to women in medium activity occupations, women in light and sedentary occupations had an OR for moderate-severe OSA of 4.2 (95% CI 2.6-7.2) and 3.5 (2.0-6.0). OSA patients who adequately exercised had lower: levels of doctor-diagnosed depression (p = 0.047); symptoms of fatigue (p < 0.0001); systolic (p = 0.015) and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.015); and C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
Low levels of physical activity were associated with moderate-severe OSA. Exercise in individuals with OSA is associated with lower levels of depression, fatigue, blood pressure and CRP.
Centre for Genetic Origins of Health and Disease, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Centre for Sleep Science, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, Faculty Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Western Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre II, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Laila
L
Simpson
Western Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre II, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Department of Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Western Australia, Australia.|School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Nigel
N
McArdle
Centre for Sleep Science, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, Faculty Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Western Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre II, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Department of Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Western Australia, Australia.
Peter R
PR
Eastwood
Centre for Genetic Origins of Health and Disease, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Western Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre II, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Department of Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Western Australia, Australia.|School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Kim L
KL
Ward
Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Matthew N
MN
Cooper
Western Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre II, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Annette C
AC
Wilson
Centre for Sleep Science, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, Faculty Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Western Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre II, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Department of Pulmonary Physiology and Sleep Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Western Australia, Australia.
David R
DR
Hillman
The Joanna Briggs Institute and School for Translational Health Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Lyle J
LJ
Palmer
Western Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre II, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.|Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, Adelaide, Australia.
Sutapa
S
Mukherjee
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017286:Polysomnography; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
cardio metabolic; exercise; occupation; sleep disordered breathing; weight