The prevalence of asthma in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

BACKGROUND

Most of the studies that have explored the relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and asthma have focused on the prevalence of snoring and OSA symptoms in patients with asthma.

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to measure the reverse relationship - the prevalence of asthma in patients with diagnosed OSA.

METHODS

We assessed the prevalence of asthma in all patients diagnosed polysomnographically to have OSA during the study period. A logistic regression model was developed to assess the predictors for asthma in patients with OSA.

RESULTS

Six-hundred-and-six patients with OSA with a mean age of 40+/-14.5 yr (66.7% males) were included. Asthma was present in 213 OSA patients - a prevalence of 35.1%. Body mass index (>35 kg/m2) was the only predictor of asthma.

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians should keep in mind the link between OSA and asthma. When one of these disorders is diagnosed, clinicians should consider the possible presence of the other.