Association of sleep disturbance and sleep apnea with the size of the thoracic aorta and the main pulmonary artery

Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased prevalence of aortic aneurysm, but the impact of OSA on the subclinical damage of large thoracic vessels remains controversial. Short sleep duration and poor sleep quality has been reported to be related with higher arterial stif...

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Main Authors: Xin Ru Qu, Zi Qian Cheng, Yi Ming Li, Teng Han, Xiao Lei Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00385-9
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author Xin Ru Qu
Zi Qian Cheng
Yi Ming Li
Teng Han
Xiao Lei Zhang
author_facet Xin Ru Qu
Zi Qian Cheng
Yi Ming Li
Teng Han
Xiao Lei Zhang
author_sort Xin Ru Qu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased prevalence of aortic aneurysm, but the impact of OSA on the subclinical damage of large thoracic vessels remains controversial. Short sleep duration and poor sleep quality has been reported to be related with higher arterial stiffness. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the association of sleep disturbance and sleep apnea with the size of the ascending aorta (AA), descending thoracic aorta (DTA), and main pulmonary artery (MPA). One hundred and fifty-five newly diagnosed OSA patients free of cardiovascular disease and medication were included. In-laboratory polysomnography (PSG) and chest computed tomography (CT) scanning were performed. The sleep duration was defined as total sleep time (TST) as recorded during overnight PSG, with TST < 6 h defined as short sleep duration. Sleep latency (SL), sleep efficiency (SE) and wake after sleep onset (WASO) were used to assess the objective sleep quality, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to assess EDS (excessive daytime sleepiness). The diameter of AA was positively associated with age (B = 0.199, P < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (B = 0.103, P < 0.001), and was negatively associated with mean pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2mean) (B = − 0.176, P = 0.022). The diameter of DTA was positively associated with age (B = 0.112, P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (B = 0.184, P = 0.041), and DBP (B = 0.033, P = 0.024), and was negatively associated with TST (B = − 0.006, P = 0.023). Neither nocturnal hypoxia nor TST were associated with the diameter of MPA or the ratio of MPA to AA (PA/A). The aortic or MPA measurements were not associated with SL, SE, WASO or ESS. In patients with OSA, nocturnal hypoxia and sleep duration were associated with the diameter of AA and DTA, respectively. It is suggested that sleep apnea and sleep disturbance may exert effects on the remodeling and enlargement of thoracic large vessels through distinctive mechanisms.
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spelling doaj-art-3ff8cc660834471caac7d7eece01241b2025-08-20T01:49:37ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-00385-9Association of sleep disturbance and sleep apnea with the size of the thoracic aorta and the main pulmonary arteryXin Ru Qu0Zi Qian Cheng1Yi Ming Li2Teng Han3Xiao Lei Zhang4Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical CollegeDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship HospitalDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, China-Japan Friendship HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical CollegeAbstract Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with an increased prevalence of aortic aneurysm, but the impact of OSA on the subclinical damage of large thoracic vessels remains controversial. Short sleep duration and poor sleep quality has been reported to be related with higher arterial stiffness. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the association of sleep disturbance and sleep apnea with the size of the ascending aorta (AA), descending thoracic aorta (DTA), and main pulmonary artery (MPA). One hundred and fifty-five newly diagnosed OSA patients free of cardiovascular disease and medication were included. In-laboratory polysomnography (PSG) and chest computed tomography (CT) scanning were performed. The sleep duration was defined as total sleep time (TST) as recorded during overnight PSG, with TST < 6 h defined as short sleep duration. Sleep latency (SL), sleep efficiency (SE) and wake after sleep onset (WASO) were used to assess the objective sleep quality, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to assess EDS (excessive daytime sleepiness). The diameter of AA was positively associated with age (B = 0.199, P < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (B = 0.103, P < 0.001), and was negatively associated with mean pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2mean) (B = − 0.176, P = 0.022). The diameter of DTA was positively associated with age (B = 0.112, P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (B = 0.184, P = 0.041), and DBP (B = 0.033, P = 0.024), and was negatively associated with TST (B = − 0.006, P = 0.023). Neither nocturnal hypoxia nor TST were associated with the diameter of MPA or the ratio of MPA to AA (PA/A). The aortic or MPA measurements were not associated with SL, SE, WASO or ESS. In patients with OSA, nocturnal hypoxia and sleep duration were associated with the diameter of AA and DTA, respectively. It is suggested that sleep apnea and sleep disturbance may exert effects on the remodeling and enlargement of thoracic large vessels through distinctive mechanisms.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00385-9Obstructive sleep apneaSleep disturbanceAscending aortaDescending aortaMain pulmonary artery
spellingShingle Xin Ru Qu
Zi Qian Cheng
Yi Ming Li
Teng Han
Xiao Lei Zhang
Association of sleep disturbance and sleep apnea with the size of the thoracic aorta and the main pulmonary artery
Scientific Reports
Obstructive sleep apnea
Sleep disturbance
Ascending aorta
Descending aorta
Main pulmonary artery
title Association of sleep disturbance and sleep apnea with the size of the thoracic aorta and the main pulmonary artery
title_full Association of sleep disturbance and sleep apnea with the size of the thoracic aorta and the main pulmonary artery
title_fullStr Association of sleep disturbance and sleep apnea with the size of the thoracic aorta and the main pulmonary artery
title_full_unstemmed Association of sleep disturbance and sleep apnea with the size of the thoracic aorta and the main pulmonary artery
title_short Association of sleep disturbance and sleep apnea with the size of the thoracic aorta and the main pulmonary artery
title_sort association of sleep disturbance and sleep apnea with the size of the thoracic aorta and the main pulmonary artery
topic Obstructive sleep apnea
Sleep disturbance
Ascending aorta
Descending aorta
Main pulmonary artery
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00385-9
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