Kim Jiwon, Joo Min Jeong, Yong Shin Jae, Nam Chung-Mo, Park Eun-Cheol
Yonsei University Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2025 Jun 15;23(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s12955-025-02390-y.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious sleep disorder, can lead to comorbidities and decreased quality of life if untreated. Poor sleep quality from OSA affects concentration, cognitive function, and mental health, contributing to conditions such as depression and anxiety. OSA prevalence increases with age, and middle-aged adults are particularly at risk owing to age-related social and physical changes. Enhancing sleep quality is essential for improving overall quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between OSA risk and quality of life among middle-aged and older adults in South Korea.
This study utilized data from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2019 and 2021 to investigate the relationship between OSA and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). After excluding missing values, the analysis included 8,109 adults aged ≥ 40 years. The primary variable of interest was OSA risk, with HRQoL measured using the HINT-8 index. Chi-square tests, binary logistic regression, and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between OSA and HRQoL.
In this study of 4,831 participants, 59.6% were classified as high-risk for OSA. Low quality of life was significantly associated with high-risk OSA (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.17: 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.33). Subgroup analyses showed higher odds of low quality of life in high-risk OSA individuals, particularly among those not engaged in economic activity (aOR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.15-1.67), those who consumed alcohol (aOR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.03-1.49), and those with limited physical activity (aOR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.03-1.43). Higher OSA risk correlated with poorer quality of life, especially in the lowest quality of life category (aOR, 2.49; 95% CI 1.18-3.43).
The study found that middle-aged and older adults in South Korea at high risk for OSA had a lower quality of life than those at low risk. High-risk individuals who were economically inactive, consumed alcohol, or engaged in low physical activity also showed a lower quality of life. Future research should focus on accurately measuring OSA and further exploring its impact on quality of life in this population.
阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（OSA）是一种严重的睡眠障碍，若不治疗可导致合并症并降低生活质量。OSA导致的睡眠质量差会影响注意力、认知功能和心理健康，引发抑郁和焦虑等状况。OSA患病率随年龄增长而增加，中年成年人由于与年龄相关的社会和身体变化而尤其面临风险。提高睡眠质量对于改善整体生活质量至关重要。本研究的目的是调查韩国中老年成年人中OSA风险与生活质量之间的关系。
本研究利用2019年和2021年第八次韩国国家健康与营养检查调查的数据，以调查OSA与健康相关生活质量（HRQoL）之间的关系。在排除缺失值后，分析纳入了8109名年龄≥40岁的成年人。主要关注变量是OSA风险，使用HINT - 8指数测量HRQoL。进行卡方检验、二元逻辑回归和多项逻辑回归分析，以检验OSA与HRQoL之间的关联。
在这项对4831名参与者的研究中，59.6%被归类为OSA高风险。生活质量低与OSA高风险显著相关（调整后的优势比[aOR]，1.17；95%置信区间[CI]，1.03 - 1.33）。亚组分析显示，OSA高风险个体生活质量低的几率更高，尤其是在未从事经济活动的人群中（aOR，1.39；95% CI，1.15 - 1.67）、饮酒者中（aOR，1.24；95% CI，1.03 - 1.49）以及身体活动有限的人群中（aOR，1.21；95% CI，1.03 - 1.43）。OSA风险越高，生活质量越差，尤其是在生活质量最低的类别中（aOR，2.49；95% CI 1.18 - 3.43）。
该研究发现，韩国OSA高风险的中老年成年人的生活质量低于低风险人群。经济不活跃、饮酒或身体活动少的高风险个体的生活质量也较低。未来的研究应侧重于准确测量OSA，并进一步探索其对该人群生活质量的影响。
