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  • Original Article
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Associations between weight change since 20 years of age and sleep-disordered breathing among male truck drivers

Abstract

Background:

Limited evidence for association of weight gain with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has been produced for Asian populations whose body mass index (BMI) levels are lower than in western countries.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to examine weight change since 20 years of age and risk of SDB among Japanese.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Subjects:

This study includes a large sample of 5320 male Japanese truck drivers aged 30–69 years.

Measurements:

The respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was selected as an indicator of SDB, and it was estimated with a one-night sleep test using an airflow monitor, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to estimate excessive daytime sleepiness.

Results:

Respiratory disturbance and sleepiness were more prevalent among men with BMI of 25.0–29.9 and 30.0 kg/m2 than among those with BMI of 18.5–24.9; multivariable odds ratios (ORs) were 1.8(1.5–2.0), P<0.001 and 4.4(3.5–5.5), P<0.001 for RDI 10, and 1.2(0.9–1.4), P=0.18 and 1.5(1.1–2.1), P=0.02 for ESS 11, respectively. Compared with men showing BMI changes within ±1.0, the respective multivariable ORs for those with BMI changes of 3.0–4.9 and 5.0 were 1.4(1.2–1.6), P<0.001 and 2.4(2.0–2.9), P<0.001 for RDI 10, and 1.2(0.9–1.6), P=0.22 and 2.0(1.5–2.6), P<0.001 for ESS 11. The corresponding ORs for weight gain of 10.0 kg compared with weight change less than ±5.0 kg were 2.0(1.7–2.4), P<0.001 for RDI 10 and 1.5(1.2–2.0), P=0.002 for ESS 11. Similar trends were observed for RDI 20.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that an increase in BMI of 5 kg/m2 or weight gain of 10 kg is a risk factor for SDB and excessive daytime sleepiness among Japanese truck drivers.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research B (No. 14370132 in 2002–2005) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and by the Sprout Research (No. 17659184 in 2005–2006) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. We are grateful to Mr Akimoto Yutaka of the Japanese Trucking Association for his helpful assistance.

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Correspondence to T Tanigawa.

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Cui, R., Tanigawa, T., Nakano, H. et al. Associations between weight change since 20 years of age and sleep-disordered breathing among male truck drivers. Int J Obes 33, 1396–1401 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.192

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.192

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