Exercise Is Associated with a Reduced Incidence of Sleep-disordered Breathing

Exercise is associated with a reduced incidence of mild and moderate sleep-disordered breathing. When exercise is decreased, sleep-disordered breathing worsens.

Abstract 

BackgroundThe effect of exercise on sleep-disordered breathing is unknown. While diet and weight loss have been shown to reduce the severity of sleep-disordered breathing, it is unclear whether exercise has an independent effect.

MethodsA population-based longitudinal epidemiologic study of adults measured the association between exercise and incidence and severity of sleep-disordered breathing. Hours of weekly exercise were assessed by 2 mailed surveys (1988 and 2000). Sleep-disordered breathing was assessed by 18-channel in-laboratory polysomnography at baseline and at follow-up.

ResultsAssociations were modeled using linear and logistic regression, adjusting for body mass index, age, sex, and other covariates. Hours of exercise were associated with reduced incidence of mild (odds ratio 0.76, P=.011) and moderate (odds ratio 0.67, P=.002) sleep-disordered breathing. A decrease in exercise duration also was associated with worsening sleep-disordered breathing, as measured by the apnea-hypopnea index (β=2.368, P=.048). Adjustment for body mass index attenuated these effects.

ConclusionsExercise is associated with a reduced incidence of mild and moderate sleep-disordered breathing, and decreasing exercise is associated with worsening of sleep-disordered breathing. The effect of exercise on sleep-disordered breathing appears to be largely, but perhaps not entirely, mediated by changes in body habitus.

To read this article in its entirety, please visit our website.

— Karim M. Awad, MD, Atul Malhotra, Jodi H. Barnet, Stuart F. Quan, Paul E. Peppard

This article originally appeared in May 2012 issue of The American Journal of Medicine.