People with sleep apnea have less ability to exercise, which could translate into a higher risk of heart disease, a new study finds.
Sleep apnea, a common disorder that interferes with getting a good night’s sleep, is estimated to affect some 25 million Americans.
Researchers conducted a study in which the exercise capacity of 15 adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea was compared to 19 people mild or no sleep apnea who acted as controls.
The participants underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test in which their peak oxygen level was calculated as they pedaled a stationary bike to the point of near exhaustion.
The ability to exercise was significantly lower in people with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea than in controls. Further analysis found that sleep apnea severity alone explained 16.1 percent of this variability, the researchers found.
“We found a significant association indicating that there is likely a very strong independent relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and exercise capacity,” said lead author Dr. Jeremy Beitler, assistant clinical professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of California, San Diego.
Sleep apnea is characterized by loud snoring and pauses in breathing during sleep.
The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.
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