European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Context: Central obesity, increased neck circumference are strong established risk factors of OSA. Familial aggregation is less explored potential risk factors. Aims: To compare sleep, metabolic parameters and risk of OSA in subjects with and without history of loud snoring in first degree blood relatives. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional tertiary hospital- based study Methods and Material: Overweight subjects (body mass index >25 kg/m2 aged 18-65 yrs were selected using systematic random sampling from attendants of patients attending Pulmonary Medicine OPD .On the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria,380 subjects were enrolled, inquired about “Loud Snoring” in their first degree blood relatives and full night study, fasting serum lipid profile, plasma glucose level estimation was carried out after taking informed/written consent. Statistical analysis used: Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20. Student t test was applied for comparing mean values of various variables between two groups. Fisher test was applied for estimation of odd ratio (OR). Results: Neck circumference (p value .01), AHI value (p value .01) and fasting plasma glucose levels (p value .04) were found significantly higher in subjects with positive history of loud snoring in any first degree blood relative . Increased but insignificant risk (P value 0.15) of OSA (defined as AHI<5 ); OR 1.7 (range .8-3.6 with 95% CI) was observed in these subjects when compared on the basis of presence or absence of history of loud snoring in any first degree blood relative . Conclusion: This study gives us a new direction for determining potential role of family history in near relatives in progression and occurrence of OSA in an individual.