Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Snorers: A Cross-Sectional Study of 3,323 Men Aged 54 to 74 Years: The Copenhagen Male Study

doi:10.1378/chest.102.5.1371

Chest

Volume 102, Issue 5, November 1992, Pages 1371-1376

https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.102.5.1371 Get rights and content

Former studies on the association between snoring and cardiovascular disease (CVD) have only partly taken established CVD risk factors into consideration. In the Copenhagen Male Study, 3,323 men aged 54 to 74 years were classified according to self-reported snoring habits. Eleven CVD risk factors were examined. The prevalence of snoring decreased with age, with a 50 percent higher frequency of snorers among the youngest quintile than among the oldest (p<0.00001). Snoring, age adjusted, was positively associated with tobacco smoking (p<0.001), alcohol consumption (p<0.0001), body mass index (BMI) (p<0.0001), serum triglyceride level (p<0.01), systolic blood pressure (p<0.05) and nearly significantly associated with diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.07). Snorers were less physically active in leisure time than others (p<0.01). The association between self-reported snoring and blood pressure disappeared when other factors, including BMI, were taken into consideration. No significant associations were found between snoring and social class, snoring and low- or high-density lipoprotein or between snoring and hypertension. We conclude that snoring is associated with major cardiovascular risk factors. Accordingly, it is evident that in studies on snoring and CVD, proper controlling for the influence of potential confounders is a sine qua non. (Chest 1992; 192:1371-76)

Section snippets

METHODS

The data used are derived from the Copenhagen Male Study. The study was initiated in 1970 as a prospective cardiovascular cohort study, and included 5,249 male employees at 14 Copenhagen public or private companies. Their mean age was 48 years (range, 40 to 59 years).20, 21, 22

Approximately 15 years later, in 1985-1986, a new baseline was established. All survivors (except 34 emigrants) were traced by means of the Danish Central Person Register and invited to take part in a clinical follow-up

From the Questionnaire

Snoring Habits: The question was phrased: “Do you know or have you been told that you snore during the night?” Answer options were “rarely or hardly ever” or “often or always.”

Sleeping Partner: The question was phrased: “Do you share your bedroom with your spouse or other person with whom you cohabit?” Answer options were yes or no.

Own Bedroom Due to Snoring: The question was phrased: “If you sleep alone, is it because you snore so much it would disturb others?” Answer options were “yes” or

RESULTS

Some 1,670 (50.3 percent) subjects reported to be snorers, ie, snoring always or often. Of those responding, 1,653 (49.7 percent) reported to be nonsnorers, ie, snoring never or occasionally. Sixty-four men did not answer the question on snoring habits. Responders to the question were included in the study (n = 3,323). Some 2,587 men (80 percent) reported that they slept with a partner, and 212 men reported that they had separate bedrooms due to snoring.

The prevalence of snoring decreased with

DISCUSSION

The finding that snorers had serum lipid levels different from nonsnorers has never been reported previously (to our knowledge). Snorers had a higher serum triglyceride level, whereas low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were similar in snorers and nonsnorers. In multivariate analysis, it was shown that the association between snoring and serum triglyceride levels was the result of the association between serum triglyceride levels and BMI, physical activity,

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

: This study received grants from the King Christian X's Foundation, the Danish Medical Research Council, the Danish Heart Foundation, and the Else and Mogens Wedell-Wedellsborg Foundation.

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: Manuscript received November 26, 1991; revision accepted April 22.

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Chest

Clinical InvestigationsCardiovascular Risk Factors in Snorers: A Cross-Sectional Study of 3,323 Men Aged 54 to 74 Years: The Copenhagen Male Study

Section snippets

METHODS

From the Questionnaire

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Lancet

J Clin Epidemiol

Lancet

Chest

Lancet

Lipid Res

J Pediatr

Some epidemiologic data on snoring and cardiocirculatory disturbances

Sleep

Snoring as a risk factor for disease: an epidemiological survey

BMJ

Snoring as a risk factor for hypertension and angina pectoris

Lancet

Snoring as a risk factor for ischemic heart disease and stroke in men

BMJ

Snoring every night as a risk factor for myocardial infarction: a case-control study

BMJ

Snoring and systemic hypertension

Acta Med Scand

Sleep apnea: prevalence of risk factors in a general population

Southern Med J

Snoring in a Hispanic-American population: risk factors and association with hypertension and other morbidity

Arch Intern Med

Snoring and systemic hypertension–an epidemiological study

Acta Med Scand

Somatic diseases and sleep complaints: an epidemiological study of 3,201 Swedish men

Acta Med Scand

Relation between systemic hypertension and sleep hypoxemia or snoring: analysis in 748 men drawn from a general practice

BMJ

Clinical Investigations
Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Snorers: A Cross-Sectional Study of 3,323 Men Aged 54 to 74 Years: The Copenhagen Male Study