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The impact of active and former smoking on the severity of obstructive sleep apnea

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Abstract

Purpose

Although obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is a common disorder; the connection between OSA and smoking habits is still controversial. In this study, we investigated whether active smoking and pack × years of smoking have an impact on the severity of the disease regarding the patients with OSA.

Methods

This study included 964 patients referred to the Sleep Disorders Clinic between 01.01.2007 and 01.03.2013 with an overnight polysomnographic diagnosis of OSA. The correlation between smoking habits and polysomnographic parameters has been studied in detail.

Results

There were 684 male (79 %) and 280 female (21 %) patients, 367 (50.6 %) of whom never smoked. Of all, 20.7 % of the smokers were current smokers (n = 150) while 28.2 % were former smokers (n = 208). Active smokers had a mean age of 49.53 (SD 10.17) while former smokers and never smokers had a mean age of 51.37 (SD 10.62), 54.2 (SD 11.56), respectively, which was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). There was a significant male predominance in smoking (p < 0.0001). In addition, male patients displayed more severe OSA than female patients. (p = 0.001). Desaturation time during sleep was found to be significantly longer in the group of former smokers in comparison to never smokers (73.84 SD 97.1–52 SD 85.8) (p = 0.005). Besides, as the apnea hypopnea index increased, the mean pack × years rose significantly (p = 0.01). Severe smokers compared to mild smokers had higher AHI, lower NREM 3, higher NREM1-2 stages (p = 0. 017, p = 0.007, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

In this study, we found that cigarette smoking was associated with early age disease; heavy smokers had more severe OSA.

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Conflicts of interest

The authors declared that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dr. Suat Seren Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Yenişehir, Izmir, Turkey

    Yelda Varol, Ceyda Anar, Ozlem Egemen Tuzel, Salih Zeki Guclu & Zeynep Zeren Ucar

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  1. Yelda Varol
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  2. Ceyda Anar
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  3. Ozlem Egemen Tuzel
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  4. Salih Zeki Guclu
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  5. Zeynep Zeren Ucar
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Correspondence to Yelda Varol.

Additional information

Yelda Varol holds a degree in medicine, Dr. Suat Seren Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital.

Ceyda Anar holds a degree in medicine, Dr. Suat Seren Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital.

Ozlem Egemen Tuzel holds a degree in medicine, Dr. Suat Seren Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital.

Salih Zeki Guclu holds a degree in medicine, Dr. Suat Seren Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital.

Zeynep Zeren Ucar holds a degree in medicine, Dr. Suat Seren Chest Diseases and Chest Surgery Training and Research Hospital.

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Varol, Y., Anar, C., Tuzel, O.E. et al. The impact of active and former smoking on the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Breath 19, 1279–1284 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-015-1159-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-015-1159-1

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