Association of Short Sleep Duration and Obstructive Sleep Apnea with Central Obesity: A Retrospective Study Utilizing Anthropometric Measures

Yi Li,1– 3,&ast; Yixuan Lu,1,2,&ast; Youdan Zhao,1 Zhi Lyu1,2 1Department of Senior Cadres Ward, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China; 2The School of Clinical Medicine, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of General Medicine, Xiamen Branch, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Zhi Lyu, Department of Senior Cadres Ward, Zhongshan Hospital of Xiamen University, No. 201-209 hubin South Road, Siming District, Xiamen, 361000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86-13779950606, Email lyuzhi@xmu.edu.cnBackground: Central obesity, as measured by examination instruments, has been shown to be associated with both OSA and short sleep duration. However, objective measurement tools like CT, MRI, and DXA are expensive, cause radiation exposure, and have limited availability, especially in resource-limited settings. Thus, this study aimed to demonstrate the relevance of Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) as surrogate indicators of visceral obesity in the assessment of OSA and short sleep duration. We also intend to evaluate whether WHtR, in combination with BMI, can be a suitable surrogate marker for visceral adiposity.Methods: We recruited 333 adults with complete polysomnographic (PSG) records retrospectively. Logistic regression helped to assess the association of BMI and WHtR as surrogates for central adiposity with OSA and short sleep duration. Moreover, ROC curve analysis was conducted to evaluate the predictive ability of BMI and WHtR.Results: Following the relevant adjustments, logistic regression analysis results showed that the combination of WHtR and BMI acting as central obesity surrogates was significantly associated with OSA and short sleep duration (p< 0.05). According to univariate regression analysis, sleep latency and wake after sleep onset were independent predictors of the risk of central obesity in patients with short sleep duration and OSA. Additionally, ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the combination of BMI and WHtR provided a better assessment of central adiposity in patients with OSA and short sleep duration, compared to each measure alone.Conclusion: BMI and WHtR are significantly associated with OSA and short sleep duration, and might serve as a potential surrogate marker for central obesity. Sleep latency and wake after sleep onset can independently predict the risk of central obesity in patients with short sleep time and OSA. Thus, larger prospective studies are needed to verify our findings.Keywords: body mass index, central obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, short sleep duration, waist-to-height ratio