Association of obstructive sleep apnea risk with depression and anxiety symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk is associated with depression and anxiety symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of women with PCOS, by the Rotterdam criteria, seen at a single academic center between June 2017 and June 2020. Depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and OSA risk were assessed with the self-administered Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Berlin questionnaires, respectively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine the odds of moderate/severe symptoms of depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10) and anxiety (GAD-7 ≥ 10) in the high-risk vs low-risk OSA groups. The primary multivariate model adjusted for age, body mass index, free testosterone, and insulin resistance. RESULTS: Of the 200 participants, the mean age was 28.0 years and 38% screened high risk for OSA. Women who screened high-risk OSA had > 3 times the odds of moderate/severe depression (odds ratio [OR]: 3.19; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.76–5.78; P < .001) and > 2 times the odds of having moderate/severe anxiety (OR: 2.49; 95% CI: 1.34–4.64; P = .004). These associations were only slightly attenuated in the adjusted models: the adjusted OR for moderate/severe depression was 3.06 (95% CI: 1.36–6.88; P = .01) and the aOR for moderate/severe anxiety was 2.39 (95% CI: 1.03–5.59; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Among women with PCOS, those at high risk of OSA experienced elevated depression and anxiety symptoms compared with those at low risk for OSA, independent of the effects of age, body mass index, hyperandrogenism, and insulin resistance. CITATION: Zhou X, Jaswa E, Pasch L, Shinkai K, Cedars MI, Huddleston HG. Association of obstructive sleep apnea risk with depression and anxiety symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(10):XXX–XXX.