Does sleep apnea affect heart rate variability during wakefulness?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. However, the relationship between OSA severity and multiple heart rate variability (HRV) metrics during wakefulness remains an open question.

In another excellent paper co-authored by one of our BSC team members in collaboration with the Sleep Apnea Global Interdisciplinary Consortium (SAGIC), this question is further clarified! In this study, the authors show that measures of HRV measured during a 5-minute period of wakefulness prior to an overnight sleep study were significantly associated with higher OSA severity. The observed differences are consistent with worse cardiovascular abnormalities in the most severe OSA group.

Fantastic job Brendan Keenan and co-authors!

Interested in understanding more about the correlation between OSA and HRV? Check this article in Sleep: doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsab018