396 Ethnicity modifies the association between central sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation in older men: Kuakini HAAS and Mr.OS

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Several studies indicated there is an association between central sleep apnea (CSA) and atrial fibrillation (AF) in older populations. However, few studies assessed the impact of ethnicity on the association. We assessed the hypothesis that ethnicity modifies the association between CSA and AF in older men. Methods We did a cross-sectional analysis using two population studies of Japanese-American (JA) and White-American (WA) men. The Kuakini Honolulu-Asia Aging Study (HAAS) is a longitudinal cohort study of JA men living in Hawaii. Sleep data were collected between 1999–2000. The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (Mr.OS) Sleep Study was conducted between 2003–2005 on the continental U.S. The majority of Mr.OS participants were WA. We selected 79–90 year old males, who had overnight polysomnography from both studies. Total participants were 690 JA and 871 WA men. Obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (OAHI) was the measure of the number of obstructive apneas and hypopneas with >4% oxygen desaturation. Additionally, the central apnea index (CAI) was the measure of the number of central apneas. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was categorized as none (OAHI <5), mild (OAHI 5–14), moderate (OAHI 15–29), and severe (OAHI>=30). CSA was defined by CAI>=5. Cheyne-Stokes breathing (CSB) was defined as a minimum consecutive 5–10 minute period of a crescendo-decrescendo respiratory pattern associated with CSA. A board-certified physician confirmed AF by single lead electrocardiography of polysomnography. Results The prevalence of AF was 5.7% in JA and 9.1% in WA. The prevalence of CSA and CSB in WA were higher than in JA (11.5% vs 6.5% and 5.7% vs 3.3%, respectively). Conversely, the prevalence of severe OSA in JA (20.7%) was higher than in WA (11.8%). In multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models, CSA was associated with higher odds of AF, and the association was stronger in JA [Odds Ratio (OR)=4.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.95–11.64] than in WA (OR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.07–3.94). CSB showed similar trends as CSA. In contrast, the severity of OSA was not significantly associated with AF in either ethnicity. Conclusion Ethnicity modifies the association between CSA and AF. In older JA and WA men, screening for CSA might be important to prevent AF. Support (if any):