Prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea in depression: an observational retrospective study

BackgroundA substantial number of previous studies have concentrated on the prevalence of depression among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, research regarding the prevalence of OSA among patients with depression remains relatively scarce. The aim of this study was to determine t...

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Main Authors: Xiujuan Chen, Zhengfa Qiu, Changzhou Hu, Zhiwang Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1568830/full
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author Xiujuan Chen
Zhengfa Qiu
Changzhou Hu
Zhiwang Liu
author_facet Xiujuan Chen
Zhengfa Qiu
Changzhou Hu
Zhiwang Liu
author_sort Xiujuan Chen
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundA substantial number of previous studies have concentrated on the prevalence of depression among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, research regarding the prevalence of OSA among patients with depression remains relatively scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of OSA among patients with depression and to identify the associated risk factors.MethodA single-center retrospective chart review was conducted. The research focused on patients diagnosed with depression who were referred for a polysomnogram (PSG) during a one-year period. Patients were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) if their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was ≥5. Using the PSG monitoring results, patients were classified into two distinct groups: the OSA group, consisting of 50 patients, and the non-OSA group, which included 109 patients. An in-depth analysis was subsequently conducted on the sleep architecture and factors associated with the risk of OSA.ResultsAmong the 159 depression patients who met the subject criteria, 31.4% were diagnosed with OSA. Statistically significant differences were observed between the OSA group and the non-OSA group in terms of sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, and lipid levels (all p<0.05). The PSG monitoring results indicated that both the duration of non-rapid eye movement stage 3 (N3) sleep and the percentage of N3 sleep relative to total sleep time (N3/TST) were markedly lower in the OSA group than in the non-OSA group, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.01). Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding the number of awakenings, arousal index (ArI), mean oxygen saturation, oxygen saturation nadir, and oxygen desaturation index (all p<0.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that advanced age (odds ratio [OR]=1.034, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.004-1.065, p=0.024), female sex (OR=0.378, 95% CI: 0.171-0.837, p=0.016), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (OR=1.946, 95% CI: 1.026-3.692, p=0.041), and BMI≥25.0 kg/m² (OR=3.434, 95% CI: 1.411-8.360, p=0.007) were factors associated with OSA among patients with depression.ConclusionOSA was prevalent among patients with depression. Risk factors for OSA included male sex, advancing age, a BMI≥25.0 kg/m², and elevated LDL-C levels.
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spelling doaj-art-7b7523dcbd5d4e239f762665e01ebd592025-08-20T02:07:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychiatry1664-06402025-04-011610.3389/fpsyt.2025.15688301568830Prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea in depression: an observational retrospective studyXiujuan ChenZhengfa QiuChangzhou HuZhiwang LiuBackgroundA substantial number of previous studies have concentrated on the prevalence of depression among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, research regarding the prevalence of OSA among patients with depression remains relatively scarce. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of OSA among patients with depression and to identify the associated risk factors.MethodA single-center retrospective chart review was conducted. The research focused on patients diagnosed with depression who were referred for a polysomnogram (PSG) during a one-year period. Patients were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) if their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was ≥5. Using the PSG monitoring results, patients were classified into two distinct groups: the OSA group, consisting of 50 patients, and the non-OSA group, which included 109 patients. An in-depth analysis was subsequently conducted on the sleep architecture and factors associated with the risk of OSA.ResultsAmong the 159 depression patients who met the subject criteria, 31.4% were diagnosed with OSA. Statistically significant differences were observed between the OSA group and the non-OSA group in terms of sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, and lipid levels (all p<0.05). The PSG monitoring results indicated that both the duration of non-rapid eye movement stage 3 (N3) sleep and the percentage of N3 sleep relative to total sleep time (N3/TST) were markedly lower in the OSA group than in the non-OSA group, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.01). Statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups regarding the number of awakenings, arousal index (ArI), mean oxygen saturation, oxygen saturation nadir, and oxygen desaturation index (all p<0.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that advanced age (odds ratio [OR]=1.034, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.004-1.065, p=0.024), female sex (OR=0.378, 95% CI: 0.171-0.837, p=0.016), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (OR=1.946, 95% CI: 1.026-3.692, p=0.041), and BMI≥25.0 kg/m² (OR=3.434, 95% CI: 1.411-8.360, p=0.007) were factors associated with OSA among patients with depression.ConclusionOSA was prevalent among patients with depression. Risk factors for OSA included male sex, advancing age, a BMI≥25.0 kg/m², and elevated LDL-C levels.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1568830/fulldepressionsleep apneaobstructiverisk factorspolysomnographyretrospective study
spellingShingle Xiujuan Chen
Zhengfa Qiu
Changzhou Hu
Zhiwang Liu
Prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea in depression: an observational retrospective study
Frontiers in Psychiatry
depression
sleep apnea
obstructive
risk factors
polysomnography
retrospective study
title Prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea in depression: an observational retrospective study
title_full Prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea in depression: an observational retrospective study
title_fullStr Prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea in depression: an observational retrospective study
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea in depression: an observational retrospective study
title_short Prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea in depression: an observational retrospective study
title_sort prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea in depression an observational retrospective study
topic depression
sleep apnea
obstructive
risk factors
polysomnography
retrospective study
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1568830/full
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AT changzhouhu prevalenceandriskfactorsofobstructivesleepapneaindepressionanobservationalretrospectivestudy
AT zhiwangliu prevalenceandriskfactorsofobstructivesleepapneaindepressionanobservationalretrospectivestudy