Sleep apnea may have link with depression

A recent study has revealed that Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its other symptoms may be linked to depression, regardless of factors like weight, age, sex or race.

The study was carried out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also claimed that there is no such link between depression and snoring.

"Snorting, gasping or stopping breathing while asleep was associated with nearly all depression symptoms, including feeling hopeless and feeling like a failure," Anne G. Wheaton, lead author of the study, said.

"We expected persons with sleep-disordered breathing to report trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, or feeling tired and having little energy, but not the other symptoms," she said.

The study was done by surveying 9,714 American adults across the country to examine this relationship.

This study is the first nationally representative sampling to examine this relationship, surveying 9,714 American adults.

Earlier studies were limited to smaller and specific population such as people suffering from (OSA), depression or other health conditions.

Wheaton, an epidemiologist with CDC, said the tendency of depression was observed more with the reported frequency of snorting or instances when breathing stopped during the study.

According to her, screening for these types of disorders in the presence of the other could help address the high prevalence and underdiagnosis of sleep apnea and depression, particularly if the main complaint is sleepiness.
OSA is a common form of sleep-disordered breathing and the common symptoms of OSA are Snorting, gasping and pauses in breathing during sleep.

In the study, out of the total sample, six percent of men and 3 percent of women were diagnosed with sleep apnea. The main cause of occurrence of OSA is the relaxation of muscles during sleep leading to the collapse of the soft tissue in the back of the throat and blockage the upper airway.

The details of the study will be published in the journal Sleep.

-With inputs from ANI.

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