Does obstructive sleep apnea–induced intermittent hypoxia increase the incidence of solitary pulmonary nodules, thyroid nodules, and other disorders? A retrospective study based on 750 cardiovascular disease patients

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been shown to be an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and intermittent hypoxia is an important pathogenetic factor for it.

In the clinic, it was found that most CVD patients combined with OSA were also combined with solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) or thyroid nodules (TN).

Are these disorders related to intermittent hypoxia?

One study showed that intermittent hypoxia is a pathogenic factor for lung cancer in mice, but there have been no clinical reports.

So we conducted a retrospective study to explore whether intermittent hypoxia caused by OSA increases the incidence of SPN, TN, and other disorders.

Methods We selected 750 patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), who were divided into the control group and the OSA group according to the result of portable sleep monitoring.

Retrospectively analyzed the comorbidities that patients with OSA are prone to and explored the correlation between OSA and those comorbidities.

Results The incidence of SPN, TN, cervical spondylosis, and carotid-artery plaques was higher in the OSA group than in the control group.

These diseases are significantly associated with OSA ( p  < 0.05), and their incidence increased with an elevated apnea–hypopnea index.

After excluding interference from age, gender, BMI, smoking history, history of lung disease, and history of tumors, OSA showed a significant correlation with SPN.

After excluding age, gender, BMI, and thyroid disease, OSA was associated with TN.

Patients with comorbidities have lower nocturnal oxygen saturation and more extended periods of apnea.

Logistic multiple regression results revealed that male, advanced age, obesity, CS, and nasal septum deviation were independent risk factors for OSA.

Conclusions Patients combined with OSA may further develop more comorbidities, such as SPN, TN, and carotid-artery plaques.

It may be related to intermittent hypoxia caused by OSA.