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Metabolic consequences of snoring in adolescents and younger adults: a population study in Chile

International Journal of Obesity volume 40, pages 1510–1514 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Study objectives:

To investigate the potential association between snoring and other symptoms indicative of sleep-disordered breathing and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Hispanic adolescents and younger adults using a large population-based survey.

Methods:

Sleep-related information, anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples markers of MetS were obtained from subjects aged 15–40 years collected through the 2nd Chilean Health Survey. Regression models were constructed to evaluate the associations of snoring with MetS, hypertension and serum cholesterol levels. The modulating effect of sleep duration was accounted for in the models.

Results:

A total of 2147 subjects (42% males, mean age 27.9±7.6 years) were included. Snoring and short sleep duration were present in 43.5 and 25% of the entire population, respectively. MetS was detected in 19.5% of the subjects. In the adjusted regression model, the odds of MetS among snoring subjects were 2.13 times higher (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.52–2.99; P<0.01), and 1.53-fold higher odds of elevated cholesterol also emerged (95% CI: 1.12–2.10; P<0.01). However, the odds of hypertension were not increased by the presence of snoring after adjusting for confounders. In addition, snoring was associated with an increase of 7.26 and 6.56 mg dl−1 for total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, respectively, even after adjusting for age, sex and body mass index. Short sleep duration was associated with a small albeit significant risk increase for high systolic blood pressure.

Conclusions:

In this large population-based sample of young Hispanic adults and adolescents, snoring, but not sleep duration, emerged as an independent risk factor for dyslipidemia and MetS, but not for hypertension.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the Chilean Health Ministry (MINSAL) and its Department of Public Health for designing and conducting the second National Health Survey 2009–2010 and providing the corresponding database. We also wish to thank FONDECYT project number 11130573 for supporting the analysis conducted in this study. Chilean Health Ministry (MINSAL) founded the 2nd National Health Survey 2009–2010 used for this study and FONDECYT project number 11130573 the analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Pulmonology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    P E Brockmann & A Castet

  2. Sleep Medicine Center, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    P E Brockmann

  3. School of Medicine,

    F Damiani & F Nuñez

  4. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    F Damiani & F Nuñez

  5. Division of Biological Sciences, Department of Public Health Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    D L Smith

  6. Department of Public Health,

    L Villarroel

  7. School of Medicine,

    L Villarroel

  8. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    L Villarroel

  9. Division of Biological Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, Sections of Pediatric Sleep Medicine and Pulmonology, Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    D Gozal

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  1. P E Brockmann
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Correspondence to P E Brockmann.

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Brockmann, P., Damiani, F., Smith, D. et al. Metabolic consequences of snoring in adolescents and younger adults: a population study in Chile. Int J Obes 40, 1510–1514 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2016.133

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2016.133

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