Association Between Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Intraocular Pressure Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VIII.

Prcis: A higher screening tool for obstructive sleep apnea risk (STOP-BANG) score and loud snoring observed breathing interruptions during sleep, hypertension, and wide neck circumference (NC) were individually and in combination associated with high intraocular pressure (IOP) in Koreans aged 40 years and older.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between IOP and the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: In this population-based, cross-sectional study, we included Korean adults aged 40 years or above recruited between 2019 and 2021. A total of 6315 subjects were included in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Ⅷ database. The risk of OSA was measured by the STOP-BANG questionnaire. The IOPs were measured using a rebound tonometer. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between IOP quartiles (highest quartile vs lower first to third quartiles) with OSA risk after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, and diabetes.

Results: The adjusted odds ratio for high IOP was 1.27 (95% CI: 1.12-1.43) for participants with a STOP-BANG score of 3-8 compared with those with a score of 0-2. Participants with loud snoring observed breathing interruptions during sleep, hypertension, or wide NC had 24%-40% higher odds of high IOP than those without these components. The odds ratio for high IOP in the group with all 4 factors was 2.09 times higher (95% CI: 1.26-3.46) than in the group without these factors.

Conclusions: A higher STOP-BANG score was associated with an increased risk of high IOP in Koreans aged 40 years and older. Furthermore, among the STOP-BANG components, loud snoring observed breathing interruptions during sleep, hypertension, and wide NC were individually and in combination associated with high IOP.