Snoring and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Abstract

The association of snoring with some cardiovascular risk factors was studied cross-sectionally by a postal survey among 3750 males aged 40-59 years. In univariate analyses, snoring associated statistically significantly (P < 0.01) with hypertension, smoking, obesity, heavy alcohol use, physical inactivity, dyspnoea, hostility and morning tiredness. In a multiple logistic regression model adjusted by age, snoring associated significantly with smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, hostility and morning tiredness. When smoking was excluded from the multivariate model, alcohol use was also associated significantly with snoring. The association of snoring with smoking, and with obesity seemed to be almost independent from other studied correlates of snoring. Our results indicate that in further studies on predictive value of snoring with regard to coronary heart disease and stroke, the associations of snoring with hypertension, smoking, obesity, heavy alcohol use, physical inactivity and hostility have to be considered, as these risk characteristics may cause confounding effects.

Snoring and hypertension: a 10 year follow-up

“…In contrast, STRADLING and CROSBY [10] found no significant increase in the prevalence of hypertension among snorers after adjustments for age and BMI. Similarly, in the surveys by JENNUM and SJØL [11] and KOSKENVUO et al [9] the association between snoring and hypertension was no longer significant after adjustments for confounders.…”

“…However, snoring and hypertension have many risk factors in common. Cross-sectional and case-control studies have shown that snoring is associated with: obesity; age; smoking; heavy alcohol consumption; and physical inactivity [5][6][7][8][9]. After adjustments for these confounding factors, it was found in several recent studies that hypertension was not significantly associated with snoring [9][10][11].…”

“…Cross-sectional and case-control studies have shown that snoring is associated with: obesity; age; smoking; heavy alcohol consumption; and physical inactivity [5][6][7][8][9]. After adjustments for these confounding factors, it was found in several recent studies that hypertension was not significantly associated with snoring [9][10][11]. In two review articles the authors have stated that there is no epidemiological evidence of a causal relationship between snoring and hypertension and one of the points they have criticized is the lack of prospective surveys within this field [12,13].…”

The Association Between Snoring, Daytime Sleepiness and Obesity in Professional Wrestlers

“…In spite of adjusting age and obesity, a low level of physical activity was associated with higher risk of habitual snoring in obese women and men (9,18). Previous studies suggested that nasal obstruction is a risk factor for snoring (11,17).…”

“…On the other hand, sports and physical activity may provide protection from snoring. A low level of physical activity is associated with a higher risk of self-reported habitual snoring (9,10).…”