Elevated Serum C-Reactive Protein and Markers of Sleep Disordered Breathing

Abstract EN

Background.

Previous studies indicated sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Systemic inflammation is recognized as a risk factor for CVD.

Studies examining SDB and inflammation are limited.

Methods.

We studied sleep duration, snoring, snorting, and daytime sleepiness, and an additive SDB score.

The main outcome was a C-reactive protein (CRP) of >1 mg/dL.

Results.

Snoring, snorting, daytime sleepiness, and sleeping >7 or <7 hours, and the additive score were significantly associated with high CRP.

The additive score was not associated in men but moderately associated in women in a multivariable model adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, smoking, hypertension, alcohol intake, physical activity, body mass index, depression, diabetes, hypertension, and total cholesterol (P-interaction =0.42).

For race/ethnicity, the association was strongest in Mexican Americans/others, modest in Non-Hispanic whites, and absent in Non-Hispanic blacks (P-interaction =0.07).

Conclusions.

The association between SDB and high CRP was present mainly in women and Mexican Americans, implying SDB has a residual, independent association with inflammation after controlling for lifestyle and metabolic risk factors like BMI, physical activity, depression, diabetes, and cholesterol.