Association of Plasma Homocysteine with Self-Reported Sleep Apnea Is Confounded by Age: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006. (29th December 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thakre, Tushar P.; Mamtani, Manju; Ujaoney, Shweta; Kulkarni, Hemant
• Other Names: Schiza Sophia Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Sleep disorders. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2011-12-29
• Subjects: Sleep disorders -- Periodicals; 616.8498005
• DOI: 10.1155/2012/634920
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-3545

Abstract

Abstract : High levels of plasma homocysteine are implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases especially if accompanied by sleep apnea, but a direct pathogenetic link between plasma homocysteine levels and obstructive sleep apnea is debatable. This association can have far-reaching public health implications considering the inverse association between folate and plasma homocysteine. We used data from the 2005-2006 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to test the hypothesized associations. Of the 4490 subjects included in analysis, 177 reported sleep apnea. Age-standardized and design-effect-corrected prevalence rates were differential across gender, plasma homocysteine, and red cell folate status. Plasma homocysteine was positively correlated with age (r = 0.38, P < 0.0001 ). Multivariate analyses using sociodemographic and clinical covariates demonstrated that plasma homocysteine levels retained their respective associations with self-reported sleep apnea in all models except when age was included as a covariate. Our results demonstrate that the claimed association of plasma homocysteine with sleep apnea may be confounded by age.