| Summary: | Introduction
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious sleep disorder characterized
by repetitive episodes of paused or shallow breathing during sleep. Patients with
OSA often have excessive daytime sleepiness. The role of cigarette smoking in
OSA remains controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship
between cigarette smoking and OSA.
Methods
In this retrospective chart review, we reviewed 18-month sleep laboratory
charts in central Taiwan. We collected data regarding sleep, current cigarette
smoking status, sex, age, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, Epworth
Sleepiness Scale score, and polysomnographic sleep parameters. In total, 733
subjects were recruited; among these, 151 were smokers and 582 were nonsmokers.
Results
Smokers had significantly higher apnea–hypopnea index (p<0.001) for
non-rapid eye movement sleep stage, higher apnea–hypopnea index (p<0.001)
for total sleep time, and higher snore frequency (p<0.001) in t-test analysis. They
also demonstrated higher Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores, shorter sleep times,
lower percentage of slow-wave (deep) sleep, and longer snore times. However,
no significant association was found between cigarette smoking and OSA after
adjusting for sex, age, and BMI (OR=1.02, 95% CI: 0.66–1.57).
Conclusions
We did not find any significant association between cigarette smoking
and OSA after adjusting for age, sex, and BMI. Further well-designed prospective
controlled cohort studies might clarify the relationship between cigarette smoking
and OSA.
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