Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Obstructive sleep apnea negatively impacts objectively measured physical activity

  • Sleep Breathing Physiology and Disorders • Original Article
  • Published:
Sleep and Breathing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are frequent comorbid conditions. The impact of OSA on objectively measured physical activity (PA), independent of obesity, is not clear. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of OSA on PA measured via accelerometer.

Methods

Overweight-to-obese individuals were recruited and screened for the presence of OSA via portable diagnostic device and divided into an OSA (n = 35) and control group (n = 24). Daytime sleepiness was assessed with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Body composition was assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Subjects wore an accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+, Actigraph Corp., Pensacola, FL) for a minimum of 4 and maximum of 7 days, including at least one weekend day.

Results

There were no group differences in body mass index (BMI) or daytime sleepiness. Waist and neck circumference were higher in the OSA group. The OSA group was significantly older than the control group. The OSA group had fewer steps, moderate intensity minutes, moderate-to-vigorous minutes, number of PA bouts per day (≥ moderate intensity PA for ≥ 10 consecutive minutes), and total number of PA bouts. When adjusted for age, the PA bout data was no longer significant.

Conclusion

Individuals screened as likely possessing OSA were less physically active than individuals without OSA when measured through objective means. We found no group differences in daytime sleepiness, BMI, or percent fat, suggesting other mechanisms than obesity and sleepiness for this difference.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Young T, Palta M, Dempsey J, Skatrud J, Weber S, Badr S (1993) The occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing among middle-aged adults. N Engl J Med 328(17):1230–1235

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Peppard PE, Young T, Barnet JH, Palta M, Hagen EW, Hla KM (2013) Increased prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in adults. Am J Epidemiol 177(9):1006–1014

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Punjabi NM, Sorkin JD, Katzel LI, Goldberg AP, Schwartz AR, Smith PL (2002) Sleep-disordered breathing and insulin resistance in middle-aged and overweight men. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 165(5):677–682

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Malhotra A, White DP (2002) Obstructive sleep apnoea. Lancet 360(9328):237–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Dobrosielski DA, Papandreou C, Patil SP, Salas-Salvado J (2017) Diet and exercise in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea and cardiovascular disease risk. Eur Respir Rev 26(144):160110

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Somers VK, White DP, Amin R, Abraham WT, Costa F, Culebras A, Daniels S, Floras JS, Hunt CE, Olson LJ, Pickering TG, Russell R, Woo M, Young T (2008) Sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease: an American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association Council for High Blood Pressure Research Professional Education Committee, Council on Clinical Cardiology, Stroke Council, and Council on Cardiovascular Nursing. J Am Coll Cardiol 52(8):686–717

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Young T, Peppard PE, Gottlieb DJ (2002) Epidemiology of obstructive sleep apnea: a population health perspective. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 165(9):1217–1239

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Budhiraja R, Parthasarathy S, Quan SF (2007) Endothelial dysfunction in obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med 3(4):409–415

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Suzuki YJ, Jain V, Park AM, Day RM (2006) Oxidative stress and oxidant signaling in obstructive sleep apnea and associated cardiovascular diseases. Free Radic Biol Med 40(10):1683–1692

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Ryan S, Taylor CT, McNicholas WT (2005) Selective activation of inflammatory pathways by intermittent hypoxia in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Circulation 112(17):2660–2667

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ohga E, Tomita T, Wada H, Yamamoto H, Nagase T, Ouchi Y (2003) Effects of obstructive sleep apnea on circulating ICAM-1, IL-8, and MCP-1. J Appl Physiol (1985) 94 (1):179–184

  12. Somers VK, Dyken ME, Clary MP, Abboud FM (1995) Sympathetic neural mechanisms in obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Invest 96(4):1897–1904

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Quan SF, O'Connor GT, Quan JS, Redline S, Resnick HE, Shahar E, Siscovick D, Sherrill DL (2007) Association of physical activity with sleep-disordered breathing. Sleep Breath 11(3):149–157

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Peppard PE, Young T (2004) Exercise and sleep-disordered breathing: an association independent of body habitus. Sleep 27(3):480–484

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Simpson L, McArdle N, Eastwood PR, Ward KL, Cooper MN, Wilson AC, Hillman DR, Palmer LJ, Mukherjee S (2015) Physical inactivity is associated with moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med 11(10):1091–1099

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Batool-Anwar S, Goodwin JL, Drescher AA, Baldwin CM, Simon RD, Smith TW, Quan SF (2014) Impact of CPAP on activity patterns and diet in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). J Clin Sleep Med 10(5):465–472

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Suri SV, Batterham AM, Ells L, Danjoux G, Atkinson G (2015) Cross-sectional association between walking pace and sleep-disordered breathing. Int J Sports Med 36(10):843–847. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0035-1549856

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Bamberga M, Rizzi M, Gadaleta F, Grechi A, Baiardini R, Fanfulla F (2015) Relationship between energy expenditure, physical activity and weight loss during CPAP treatment in obese OSA subjects. Respir Med 109(4):540–545

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Verwimp J, Ameye L, Bruyneel M (2013) Correlation between sleep parameters, physical activity and quality of life in somnolent moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea adult patients. Sleep Breath 17(3):1039–1046

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Igelstrom H, Emtner M, Lindberg E, Asenlof P (2013) Physical activity and sedentary time in persons with obstructive sleep apnea and overweight enrolled in a randomized controlled trial for enhanced physical activity and healthy eating. Sleep Breath 17(4):1257–1266

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Chasens ER, Sereika SM, Houze MP, Strollo PJ (2011) Subjective and objective appraisal of activity in adults with obstructive sleep apnea. J Aging Res 2011:751819

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Kline CE, Crowley EP, Ewing GB, Burch JB, Blair SN, Durstine JL, Davis JM, Youngstedt SD (2011) The effect of exercise training on obstructive sleep apnea and sleep quality: a randomized controlled trial. Sleep 34(12):1631–1640

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Igelstrom H, Emtner M, Lindberg E, Asenlof P (2013) Level of agreement between methods for measuring moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary time in people with obstructive sleep apnea and obesity. Phys Ther 93(1):50–59

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Diamanti C, Manali E, Ginieri-Coccossis M, Vougas K, Cholidou K, Markozannes E, Bakakos P, Liappas I, Alchanatis M (2013) Depression, physical activity, energy consumption, and quality of life in OSA patients before and after CPAP treatment. Sleep Breath 17(4):1159–1168

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Strath SJ, Kaminsky LA, Ainsworth BE, Ekelund U, Freedson PS, Gary RA, Richardson CR, Smith DT, Swartz AM, American Heart Association Physical Activity Committee of the Council on L, Cardiometabolic H, Cardiovascular ECR, Prevention Committee of the Council on Clinical C, Council (2013) Guide to the assessment of physical activity: clinical and research applications: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 128(20):2259–2279

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Erman MK, Stewart D, Einhorn D, Gordon N, Casal E (2007) Validation of the ApneaLink for the screening of sleep apnea: a novel and simple single-channel recording device. J Clin Sleep Med 3(4):387–392

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Berry RB, Gamaldo CE, Harding SM, Brooks R, Lloyd RM, Vaughn BV, Marcus CL (2015) AASM scoring manual version 2.2 updates: new chapters for scoring infant sleep staging and home sleep apnea testing. J Clin Sleep Med 11(11):1253–1254

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Collop NA, Tracy SL, Kapur V, Mehra R, Kuhlmann D, Fleishman SA, Ojile JM (2011) Obstructive sleep apnea devices for out-of-center (OOC) testing: technology evaluation. J Clin Sleep Med 7(5):531–548

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Pescatello LS, American College of Sports Medicine (2014) ACSM's guidelines for exercise testing and prescription, 9th edn. Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Health, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  30. Evenson KR, Wen F, Metzger JS, Herring AH (2015) Physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns using accelerometry from a national sample of United States adults. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 12:20

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Freedson PS, Melanson E, Sirard J (1998) Calibration of the computer science and applications, Inc accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc 30(5):777–781

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Troiano RP, Berrigan D, Dodd KW, Masse LC, Tilert T, McDowell M (2008) Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Med Sci Sports Exerc 40(1):181–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Tudor-Locke C, Craig CL, Thyfault JP, Spence JC (2013) A step-defined sedentary lifestyle index: <5000 steps/day. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 38(2):100–114

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Slater G, Pengo MF, Kosky C, Steier J (2013) Obesity as an independent predictor of subjective excessive daytime sleepiness. Respir Med 107(2):305–309

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Pahwa P, Karunanayake CP, Hagel L, Gjevre JA, Rennie D, Lawson J, Dosman JA (2012) Prevalence of high Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores in a rural population. Can Respir J 19(2):e10–e14

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  36. Pamidi S, Knutson KL, Ghods F, Mokhlesi B (2011) Depressive symptoms and obesity as predictors of sleepiness and quality of life in patients with REM-related obstructive sleep apnea: cross-sectional analysis of a large clinical population. Sleep Med 12(9):827–831

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Healy GN, Wijndaele K, Dunstan DW, Shaw JE, Salmon J, Zimmet PZ, Owen N (2008) Objectively measured sedentary time, physical activity, and metabolic risk: the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab). Diabetes Care 31(2):369–371

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Bradley TD, Floras JS (2009) Obstructive sleep apnoea and its cardiovascular consequences. Lancet 373(9657):82–93

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Coughlin SR, Mawdsley L, Mugarza JA, Calverley PM, Wilding JP (2004) Obstructive sleep apnoea is independently associated with an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Eur Heart J 25(9):735–741

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Pellegrinelli V, Rouault C, Rodriguez-Cuenca S, Albert V, Edom-Vovard F, Vidal-Puig A, Clement K, Butler-Browne GS, Lacasa D (2015) Human adipocytes induce inflammation and atrophy in muscle cells during obesity. Diabetes 64(9):3121–3134

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Langen RC, Schols AM, Kelders MC, Van Der Velden JL, Wouters EF, Janssen-Heininger YM (2002) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibits myogenesis through redox-dependent and -independent pathways. Am J Phys Cell Phys 283(3):C714–C721

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Daulatzai MA (2011) Role of sensory stimulation in amelioration of obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep Disord 2011:596879

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Carrera M, Barbe F, Sauleda J, Tomas M, Gomez C, Santos C, Agusti AG (2004) Effects of obesity upon genioglossus structure and function in obstructive sleep apnoea. Eur Respir J 23(3):425–429

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Petrof BJ, Hendricks JC, Pack AI (1996) Does upper airway muscle injury trigger a vicious cycle in obstructive sleep apnea? A hypothesis. Sleep 19(6):465–471

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Smirne S, Iannaccone S, Ferini-Strambi L, Comola M, Colombo E, Nemni R (1991) Muscle fibre type and habitual snoring. Lancet 337(8741):597–599

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

ResMed Foundation, La Jolla, CA provided financial support for this study. The sponsor had no role in the design or conduct of this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, 22807, USA

    Trent A. Hargens, Ryan A. Martin, Courtney L. Strosnider, Gabrielle Elam Williams Giersch & Christopher J. Womack

Authors
  1. Trent A. Hargens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ryan A. Martin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Courtney L. Strosnider
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gabrielle Elam Williams Giersch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Christopher J. Womack
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Trent A. Hargens.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hargens, T.A., Martin, R.A., Strosnider, C.L. et al. Obstructive sleep apnea negatively impacts objectively measured physical activity. Sleep Breath 23, 447–454 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-018-1700-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-018-1700-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation