Mild OSA and arterial hypertension in the European Sleep Apnoea Database cohort study

<b>Background:</b> Mild obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is highly prevalent; however its association with important clinical outcomes like arterial hypertension remains unknown. <b>Aims:</b> To investigate the association between mild OSA and hypertension in the European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA) cohort after adjusting for relevant confounding factors. <b>Methods:</b> A multicentric sample of 7995 adults from the ESADA cohort with simple snoring or mild OSA at PG or PSG was studied. We compared the predictive value of mild OSA (AHI 5-&lt;15n/h) compared to non-apnoeic snorers on prevalent hypertension after adjustment for gender, age, smoking, obesity, daytime sleepiness, and comorbidities. Further we tried to identify cut-offs of AHI with the highest odds ratio for prevalent hypertension. <b>Results:</b> Arterial hypertension prevalence was 37% in mild OSA&nbsp; (n=1566) compared to 22% in non-apnoeic snorers (n=793, p&lt;0.001). Mild OSA independently predicted&nbsp; hypertension (OR = 1.290, 95% CI = 1.138-1.462, P &lt;0.001). Other factors were waist-hip ratio (OR = 4.851, 95% CI = 1.931-12.182, P=0.001), type 2 diabetes (OR=2.876, 95% CI =2.325-3.557, P&lt;0.001) and hyperlipidemia (OR=2.507, 95% CI = 2.147-2.927, P&lt;0.001). Furthermore, mild OSA, in the AHI range of 11-15 remained a significant predictor in PG (OR=1.249, 95% CI=1.023-1.525, P=0.029) and in PSG group (OR=1.282, 95% CI=1.026-1.602, P =0.029). <b>Conclusion:</b> Our results suppport the hypothesis that mild OSA is an independent risk factor for Hypertension, mainly in the 11-15 AHI range.