Racial, ethnic and sex-specific mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnea and Alzheimer's disease risk.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. Racial-, ethnic-, and sex-specific mechanisms of OSA and AD risk were examined.

Methods

We analyzed data from 3978 polysomnography patients without cognitive decline aged ≥ 60 including 663 OSA+ patients (284 non-Hispanic White, 207 Black, 172 Hispanic) matched to OSA- cohorts (1:1, n = 663; 1:4, n = 2652) and followed for AD through 2013.

Results

During the 8.5 (standard deviation 1.4) year period, 358 patients developed AD. AD risk was higher for Black (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.24 [1.24-2.71]), Hispanic (aHR 1.73, [1.38-3.51]), White (aHR 1.83, [1.21-3.37]), male (aHR 2.38, [1.31-3.47]), and female (aHR 1.37, [1.14-2.41]) patients. Hypoxia, sleep fragmentation, and sleep 

SUBMITTER: Murali KP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12835558 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature