OSA Linked to Depression, Anxiety

Adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at an increased risk for developing anxiety and depression, according to the results of a recent study.

While OSA is relatively common, its effects on psychological health are not well understood, according to the researchers.

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To explore this potential association, they conducted a study of data from a nationwide representative cohort sample from the Korea National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database including 197 patients with OSA diagnosed between January 2004 and December 2006 and 780 patients without OSA.

Overall, incidences of affective disorders per 1000 person-years were 49.57 and 27.18 in the OSA group and the control group, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio [HR] for affective disorders in patients with OSA over a 9-year follow-up period was 2.04. In a subgroup analysis, adjusted HRs for development of depression and anxiety disorders in patients with OSA were 2.90 and 1.75, respectively. Female participants with OSA had a significant likelihood of development of depression and anxiety compared with male participants with OSA (3.97 vs 2.74 for depression and 2.42 vs 1.64 for anxiety, respectively).

“This observational study using nationwide data suggests that OSA is associated with an increased incidence of affective disorder, such as depression and anxiety. Further studies appear to be needed to confirm our findings and, if validated, then studies are needed to explore the nature of the observed association, including potential causality, between OSA and affective symptoms,” the researchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Kim J, Ko I, Kim D. Association of obstructive sleep apnea with the risk of affective disorders [published online September 12, 2019]. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2019.2435