Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2013 Jun;5(6):362-6.
doi: 10.4103/1947-2714.114168.

Association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity with Exercise Capacity and Health-related Quality of Life

Katrina L Butner  1 , Trent A Hargens, Anthony S Kaleth, Larry E Miller, Donald Zedalis, William G Herbert
Affiliations

Association of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity with Exercise Capacity and Health-related Quality of Life

Katrina L Butner et al. N Am J Med Sci. 2013 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Current research is inconclusive as to whether obstructive sleep apnea severity directly limits exercise capacity and lowers health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of obstructive sleep apnea severity with determinants of exercise capacity and HRQoL.

Subjects and methods: Subjects were evaluated by home somnography and classified as no obstructive sleep apnea (n = 43) or as having mild (n = 27), moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea (n = 21). Exercise capacity was assessed by a ramping cycle ergometer test, and HRQoL was assessed with the SF-36 questionnaire.

Results: Greater obstructive sleep apnea severity was associated with older age, higher body weight, higher body mass index, lower peak aerobic capacity, a higher percentage of peak aerobic capacity at a submaximal exercise intensity of 55 watts, and lower physical component summary score from the SF-36. None of these variables were statistically different among obstructive sleep apnea severity groups after controlling for age and body weight. Obstructive sleep apnea severity was not associated with any cardiorespiratory fitness or HRQoL parameter.

Conclusions: Obstructive sleep apnea severity has no independent association with exercise capacity or HRQoL.

Keywords: Cardiorespiratory fitness; Health-related quality of life; Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

References

    1. Shah N, Roux F, Mohsenin V. Improving health-related quality of life in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: What are the available options? Treat Respir Med. 2006;5:235–44. - PubMed
    1. Yang EH, Hla KM, McHorney CA, Havighurst T, Badr MS, Weber S. Sleep apnea and quality of life. Sleep. 2000;23:535–41. - PubMed
    1. Reishtein JL. Obstructive sleep apnea: A risk factor for cardiovascular disease. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2011;26:106–16. - PubMed
    1. Gordon P, Sanders MH. Sleep. 7: Positive airway pressure therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome. Thorax. 2005;60:68–75. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Lindberg E, Berne C, Elmasry A, Hedner J, Janson C. CPAP treatment of a population-based sample: What are the benefits and the treatment compliance? Sleep Med. 2006;7:553–60. - PubMed