Neurology Department, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
Iowa City VA Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa.
J Clin Sleep Med. 2022 Dec 1;18(12):2723-2729. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.10190.
A high body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. However, to our knowledge there is no reported equation that quantifies the relationship between weight, as measured by BMI, and apnea severity, as assessed by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Our objective was to find a mathematical relationship between BMI and AHI.
We prospectively recruited 434 veterans from our polysomnography laboratory. Veterans already undergoing a sleep study were approached, and those who consented were enrolled. The veterans who enrolled in our study also participated in their scheduled sleep study. This study was approved by our institutional review board.
We found a simple mathematical relationship between BMI and AHI: for every 1-point drop in BMI (corresponding to 5-8 pounds, depending on a person's height), AHI decreases by 6.2%. And limiting BMI to 25-40 kg/m (which includes about 80% of the BMIs), then AHI drops by 7.1%. Simply put as a rule of thumb: For every 7-pounds drop in weight, expect a 7% drop in AHI.
To our knowledge, this is the first simple mathematical equation that associates the severity of weight with the severity of apnea in veterans. This equation can be a practical rule of thumb that can be implemented in clinics to predict the amount of weight a patient needs to lose to decrease their apnea, which might help motivate patients to lose weight.
Fattal D, Hester S, Wendt L. Body weight and obstructive sleep apnea: a mathematical relationship between body mass index and apnea-hypopnea index in veterans. . 2022;18(12):2723-2729.
高身体质量指数（BMI）是阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停的一个危险因素。然而，据我们所知，目前尚无报告的方程可以量化体重（通过 BMI 测量）与呼吸暂停严重程度（通过呼吸暂停低通气指数[AHI]评估）之间的关系。我们的目标是找到 BMI 与 AHI 之间的数学关系。
我们前瞻性地从我们的多导睡眠图实验室招募了 434 名退伍军人。我们联系了已经接受睡眠研究的退伍军人，并同意参加的退伍军人被纳入研究。参加我们研究的退伍军人还参加了他们计划的睡眠研究。这项研究得到了我们机构审查委员会的批准。
我们发现 BMI 和 AHI 之间存在简单的数学关系：BMI 下降 1 点（相当于 5-8 磅，具体取决于一个人的身高），AHI 下降 6.2%。将 BMI 限制在 25-40 kg/m2（包含大约 80%的 BMI），则 AHI 下降 7.1%。简单地说，作为一条经验法则：体重下降 7 磅，预计 AHI 下降 7%。
据我们所知，这是第一个将体重严重程度与退伍军人呼吸暂停严重程度相关联的简单数学方程。该方程可以作为一种实用的经验法则，在诊所中实施，以预测患者需要减轻体重的程度，从而可能有助于激励患者减肥。
Fattal D, Hester S, Wendt L. 体重与阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停：退伍军人身体质量指数与呼吸暂停低通气指数之间的数学关系。 2022;18(12):2723-2729.
