Tzu-Chieh Chou1, Wen-Miin Liang2, Chang-Bi Wang3, Trong-Neng Wu4, Liang-Wen Hang5. 1. Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Health Risk Management, College of Management, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. 2. Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biostatistics, Biostatistics Center, College of Management, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. 3. Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. 4. Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, College of Medicine and Nursing, Hunguang University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: tnwu@sunrise.hk.edu.tw. 5. Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Health Care, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Sleep Medicine Center, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: lungwen.hang@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the risk of liver disease is unclear. Moreover, population-based studies on the risk of liver disease among people with OSA have not yet been conducted. This study aimed to investigate the risk of subsequent development of liver disease among people with OSA. METHODS: Using Taiwan National Health Insurance claims data, this study collected subjects from a cohort of 17,374 people with OSA who were diagnosed between 2000 and 2008. A control group of 69,496 people was selected from the same database and matched by age, gender, urbanization, income, and date of initial admission. All subjects were followed up until 2010. Liver disease incidence and risk were calculated. RESULTS: The overall risk of liver disease among people with OSA was significantly higher than in the control group (aHR = 5.52, p <0.001). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatitis C had significant aHRs of 5.29, 7.50, and 7.19 (all at p <0.001), respectively. In contrast, hepatitis B had the smallest aHR of 3.71. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of liver disease was more than five times higher among people with OSA compared with the control group; this was particularly for cirrhosis and hepatitis C. Liver disease is thus a very important health issue among people with OSA.
BACKGROUND: The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the risk of liver disease is unclear. Moreover, population-based studies on the risk of liver disease among people with OSA have not yet been conducted. This study aimed to investigate the risk of subsequent development of liver disease among people with OSA. METHODS: Using Taiwan National Health Insurance claims data, this study collected subjects from a cohort of 17,374 people with OSA who were diagnosed between 2000 and 2008. A control group of 69,496 people was selected from the same database and matched by age, gender, urbanization, income, and date of initial admission. All subjects were followed up until 2010. Liver disease incidence and risk were calculated. RESULTS: The overall risk of liver disease among people with OSA was significantly higher than in the control group (aHR = 5.52, p <0.001). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatitis C had significant aHRs of 5.29, 7.50, and 7.19 (all at p <0.001), respectively. In contrast, hepatitis B had the smallest aHR of 3.71. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of liver disease was more than five times higher among people with OSA compared with the control group; this was particularly for cirrhosis and hepatitis C. Liver disease is thus a very important health issue among people with OSA.
Authors: Salvatore Petta; Oreste Marrone; Daniele Torres; Maria Buttacavoli; Calogero Cammà; Vito Di Marco; Anna Licata; Anna Lo Bue; Gaspare Parrinello; Antonio Pinto; Adriana Salvaggio; Antonino Tuttolomondo; Antonio Craxì; Maria Rosaria Bonsignore Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-12-16 Impact factor: 3.240