Oxygen desaturation index and apnea-hypopnea index in relation to incident heart failure: the sleep apnea patients in Skaraborg Study

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with cardiovascular morbidity; however, it remains unclear whether the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) or the severity of nocturnal hypoxemia, in terms of oxygen desaturation index (ODI), is more relevant for the development of heart failure (HF). Methods We included 3590 participants from the Sleep Apnea Patients in Skaraborg Study (mean age 54.6 ± 12.8 years, 66% men, mean body mass index 29.6 ± 5.4 kg/m2) without prevalent HF at baseline and with available AHI and ODI data. Participants were followed for a median of 8.7 years (interquartile range 7.4–10.0). AHI and ODI were categorized as