Why the study?
OSA has been linked to sudden cardiac death, and the authors hypothesized that individuals with OSA have more pronounced abnormality in daytime QT interval.
Is severe obstructive sleep apnea associated with prolonged daytime QTc interval in patients undergoing polysomnography?
Population
249 consecutive patients undergoing polysomnography with 12-lead ECG within 1 year at a single center
Comparison
Severe OSA vs moderate vs normal/mild OSA (or nonsevere OSA)
Design
Single-center retrospective observational study
Key result
Severe obstructive sleep apnea was associated with a significantly higher risk of abnormal QTc compared with nonsevere OSA (OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.34-5.48; p=0.006).
Authors
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May signal elevated arrhythmia risk in severe OSA; leaves open causal links and treatment effects in observational data.
Observational (n=249)
No
Is severe obstructive sleep apnea associated with prolonged daytime QTc interval in patients undergoing polysomnography?
Odds Ratio: 2.68 (95% CI 1.34–5.48)
p-value: p=0.006
Severe obstructive sleep apnea is associated with daytime QTc prolongation, a recognized electrocardiographic marker for increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
Walker et al. (2020) conducted an observational in Obstructive sleep apnea (n=249). Severe obstructive sleep apnea (AHI > 30) vs. Nonsevere obstructive sleep apnea (AHI < 30) was evaluated on Abnormal QTc (>450/>470 ms for men/women) (OR 2.68, 95% CI 1.34, 5.48, p=0.006). Severe obstructive sleep apnea was associated with a significantly higher risk of abnormal QTc compared with nonsevere OSA (OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.34-5.48; p=0.006).