Obstructive sleep apnea during REM-sleep – effects on cardiometabolic outcomes, inflammation and possible gender differences

It is well-known that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is followed by cardiometabolic diseases and mortality but interventional studies have failed.

Based on our own previous results in women, our hypothesis is that OSA during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is most important for long-term health consequences.

There are, however, important gender differences in both OSA prevalence and distribution of OSA between different sleep stages.The primary aim of the present study is to evaluate the impact of OSA during REM sleep and early signs of atherosclerosis in men.

Secondary aims include analyzing the effect of REM-OSA on cardiometabolic and inflammatory biomarkers.400 men from the general population are investigated with full-night polysomnography, anthropometrics, spirometry, questionnaires, blood sampling and high-resolution carotid artery ultrasound.

Participants are matched for age and BMI with women who previously underwent the same protocol for comparison of gender differences.If our hypothesis can be verified and valid also for men that would lead to a paradigm shift for diagnostic criteria and treatment selection for a disorder that is estimated to affect about 600,000 participants only in Sweden.