Development and Evaluation of a Hypertension Prediction Model for Community-Based Screening of Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Purpose: Approximately 30% of patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) present with masked hypertension, primarily characterized by elevated nighttime blood pressure. This study aimed to develop a hypertension prediction model tailored for primary care physicians, utilizing simple, readily available predictors derived from type IV sleep monitoring devices. Patients and Methods: Participants were recruited from communities in Guangdong Province, China, between April and May 2021. Data collection included demographic information, clinical indicators, and results from type IV sleep monitors, which recorded oxygen desaturation index (ODI), average nocturnal oxygen saturation (MeanSpO2), and lowest recorded oxygen saturation (MinSpO2). Hypertension was diagnosed using blood pressure monitoring or self-reported antihypertensive medication use. A nomogram was constructed using multivariate logistic regression after Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression identified six predictors: waist circumference, age, ODI, diabetes status, family history of hypertension, and apnea. Model performance was evaluated using area under the curve (AUC), calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results: The model, developed in a cohort of 680 participants and validated in 401 participants, achieved an AUC of 0.775 (95% CI: 0.730-0.820) in validation set. Calibration plots demonstrated excellent agreement between predictions and outcomes, while DCA confirmed significant clinical utility. Conclusion: This hypertension prediction model leverages easily accessible indicators, including oximetry data from type IV sleep monitors, enabling effective screening during community-based SDB assessments. It provides a cost-effective and practical tool for prioritizing early intervention and management strategies in both primary care and clinical settings.