Exploring The Association Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea And Chronic Diseases

This study aims to investigate the genetic correlations and potential causal associations between Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and various chronic diseases in the general population, using both genetic and observational data. We employed linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) to assess genetic correlations between OSA and a range of chronic diseases. Mendelian Randomization (MR) was performed to evaluate potential causal associations, using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) data. Additionally, a prospective cohort analysis was performed using UK Biobank data, with Cox regression models adjusted for potential confounders. LDSC analysis identified a significant positive genetic correlation between OSA and obesity (rg=0.61), along with moderate correlations with primary hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The MR analysis and related sensitivity analyses affirmed a causal relationship between OSA and primary hypertension (OR = 1.0237, 95% CI: 1.0121–1.0353), obesity (OR = 1.0048, 95% CI: 1.0022–1.0074), and GERD (OR = 1.2235, 95% CI: 1.0999–1.3609). The prospective cohort study corroborated these findings, demonstrating increased risks for hypertension, obesity, and GERD among individuals with OSA. This study provides genetic and observational evidence suggesting that OSA is a causal risk factor for primary hypertension, obesity, and GERD based on a large-scale population. However, the association with type 2 diabetes remains uncertain. Future research should focus on validating these findings across more diverse populations and further exploring the genetic mechanisms involved.