Anthropometric Determinants of Autonomic Control in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Large-Scale Study

Abstract

Objective: Autonomic dysfunction is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Both obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are associated with heart rate variability (HRV) (a hall marker of sympathetic arousal) and increased risk of CVD. This study aims to investigate whether anthropometric parameters could predict reduced HRV in adult OSA during wakefulness. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Sleep center of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth Hospital from 2012 to 2017. Methods: Total of 2134 subjects (503 non-OSA and 1631 OSA) were included. Anthropometric parameters were recorded. HRV was recorded during a 5-minute wakefulness period and analyzed by using time-domain method and frequency-domain method. Multiple step-wise linear regressions were performed to determine significant predictors of HRV with and without adjustments. Multiplicative interactions between gender, OSA, and obesity on HRV were also determined and evaluated. Results: Waist circumference (WC) was significant negative determinant of root mean square of successive NN intervals (β = −.116, p