Relationship between sleep apnea severity and mild cognitive impairment in people with obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract Background It is becoming increasingly acknowledged that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a variable factor influencing cognitive health. The aims of this study were to explore whether the severity of OSA is related to the occurrence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in people with OSA and...

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Main Authors: Shuxin Guo, Chunguang Liang, Jinrui Fei, Ying Ma, Weiwei Su, Huameng Xu, Jie Kong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07244-x
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author Shuxin Guo
Chunguang Liang
Jinrui Fei
Ying Ma
Weiwei Su
Huameng Xu
Jie Kong
author_facet Shuxin Guo
Chunguang Liang
Jinrui Fei
Ying Ma
Weiwei Su
Huameng Xu
Jie Kong
author_sort Shuxin Guo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background It is becoming increasingly acknowledged that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a variable factor influencing cognitive health. The aims of this study were to explore whether the severity of OSA is related to the occurrence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in people with OSA and whether different degrees of daytime sleepiness and nighttime sleep quality are related to MCI. Methods The study was cross-sectional. For our subjects, we selected individuals who visited the Sleep Medicine Center of Jinzhou Medical University’s First Affiliated Hospital between May 2023 and October 2024, underwent polysomnography (PSG) or the home sleep apnea test (HSAT), and were diagnosed with OSA. The patients were split into two groups: one for normal cognitive function (NC) and the other for MCI. MCI was defined as Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) < 26 points. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were used to assess the severity of sleep apnea. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to assess patients’ daytime sleepiness, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI) was used to assess their sleep quality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between the variables. Results In this study, 387 patients with OSA (45.3 ± 12.6 years, 82.4% male) were included, of whom 38% had MCI (52.4 ± 11.9 years, 74.1% male). In the unadjusted model, the sleep apnea severity, daytime sleepiness severity, and different sleep quality at night were positively related to MCI. After controlling for confounding factors, this correlation was no longer significant. Only severe sleep apnea (AHI ≥ 30/h, p < 0.001), poor nighttime sleep quality (PSQI ≥ 9, p = 0.020), and sleepiness (ESS ≥ 11, p < 0.05) were associated with increased risk of MCI. Conclusions Severe sleep apnea, poor sleep quality, and sleepiness were relevant to increased risk of MCI. It provides a basis for a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between OSA and MCI.
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spelling doaj-art-57facf20dee14c5b9b16b44b76db10442025-08-20T04:03:01ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-08-0125111110.1186/s12888-025-07244-xRelationship between sleep apnea severity and mild cognitive impairment in people with obstructive sleep apneaShuxin Guo0Chunguang Liang1Jinrui Fei2Ying Ma3Weiwei Su4Huameng Xu5Jie Kong6Department of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Life and Health, Huzhou CollegeDepartment of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Nursing, Jinzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Background It is becoming increasingly acknowledged that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a variable factor influencing cognitive health. The aims of this study were to explore whether the severity of OSA is related to the occurrence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in people with OSA and whether different degrees of daytime sleepiness and nighttime sleep quality are related to MCI. Methods The study was cross-sectional. For our subjects, we selected individuals who visited the Sleep Medicine Center of Jinzhou Medical University’s First Affiliated Hospital between May 2023 and October 2024, underwent polysomnography (PSG) or the home sleep apnea test (HSAT), and were diagnosed with OSA. The patients were split into two groups: one for normal cognitive function (NC) and the other for MCI. MCI was defined as Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) < 26 points. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) were used to assess the severity of sleep apnea. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to assess patients’ daytime sleepiness, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI) was used to assess their sleep quality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between the variables. Results In this study, 387 patients with OSA (45.3 ± 12.6 years, 82.4% male) were included, of whom 38% had MCI (52.4 ± 11.9 years, 74.1% male). In the unadjusted model, the sleep apnea severity, daytime sleepiness severity, and different sleep quality at night were positively related to MCI. After controlling for confounding factors, this correlation was no longer significant. Only severe sleep apnea (AHI ≥ 30/h, p < 0.001), poor nighttime sleep quality (PSQI ≥ 9, p = 0.020), and sleepiness (ESS ≥ 11, p < 0.05) were associated with increased risk of MCI. Conclusions Severe sleep apnea, poor sleep quality, and sleepiness were relevant to increased risk of MCI. It provides a basis for a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between OSA and MCI.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07244-xObstructive sleep apneaDaytime sleepinessMild cognitive impairmentSleep apnea severitySleep quality
spellingShingle Shuxin Guo
Chunguang Liang
Jinrui Fei
Ying Ma
Weiwei Su
Huameng Xu
Jie Kong
Relationship between sleep apnea severity and mild cognitive impairment in people with obstructive sleep apnea
BMC Psychiatry
Obstructive sleep apnea
Daytime sleepiness
Mild cognitive impairment
Sleep apnea severity
Sleep quality
title Relationship between sleep apnea severity and mild cognitive impairment in people with obstructive sleep apnea
title_full Relationship between sleep apnea severity and mild cognitive impairment in people with obstructive sleep apnea
title_fullStr Relationship between sleep apnea severity and mild cognitive impairment in people with obstructive sleep apnea
title_full_unstemmed Relationship between sleep apnea severity and mild cognitive impairment in people with obstructive sleep apnea
title_short Relationship between sleep apnea severity and mild cognitive impairment in people with obstructive sleep apnea
title_sort relationship between sleep apnea severity and mild cognitive impairment in people with obstructive sleep apnea
topic Obstructive sleep apnea
Daytime sleepiness
Mild cognitive impairment
Sleep apnea severity
Sleep quality
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07244-x
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