Smoking habits and severity of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Introduction. - Smoking habits have many adverse health effects. The effect of tobacco on obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome is well-documented but the effect on the severity of this syndrome has not been completely established. Aim of this study. - Evaluate the effect of tobacco on the severity of sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome. Patients and methods. - During 4 years 307, patients were referred to our department for a suspicion of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome. Among these patients, only 151 patients had an obstructive sleep apnea syndrome confirmed by nocturnal polygraph. Smoking status, clinical and spirometric data were determined in these 151 patients. Results. - Among these 151 patients, 101 were non-smokers and 50 current smokers. The apnea and hypopnea index (AHI) were higher among current smokers than non-smokers (42.96/h versus 28.77/h; P < 0.0001). The percent of patients who had a not severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were higher among non-smokers than current smokers patients (P = 0.009). Current smokers were 3.7 times more likely having severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome than non-smokers (OR = 3.7; P = 0.001). Conclusion. - Smoking habits seems to be associated with the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome that's why smoking cessation is very important in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome. (C) 2012 SPLF. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.