A Gender-Specific Association between Self-Reported Snoring and Hemoglobin A1c Levels in a General Population without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

• Published in: Yonsei medical journal 2017, 58(6), , pp.1152-1159
• Main Authors: Lee, Young Hoon, Kweon, Sun Seog, Choi, Jin Su, Nam, Hae Sung, Park, Kyeong Soo, Choi, Seong Woo, Oh, Su Hyun, Kim, Sun A, Shin, Min Ho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Blood Glucose; Female; Glycated Hemoglobin A - metabolism; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Original; Self Report; Sex Factors; Snoring - blood; Surveys and Questionnaires; 의학일반
• ISSN: 0513-5796; 1976-2437
• DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2017.58.6.1152

We explored whether a gender difference was evident in terms of the associations of snoring with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels in a healthy population without type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). We analyzed 2706 males and 4080 females who participated in the baseline survey of the Namwon Study. In terms of self-reported snoring frequency, participants were classified as non-snorers or occasional (1-3 days/week), frequent (4-6 days/week), or constant (7 days/week) snorers. Participants with DM, defined as a fasting blood glucose level ≥126 mg/dL and/or use of insulin or hypoglycemic medication, were excluded from the analysis. In females, the fully adjusted mean (95% confidence interval) HbA1c levels in non-snorers and in occasional, frequent, and constant snorers were 5.53% (5.47-5.59%), 5.53% (5.47-5.59%), 5.57% (5.49-5.64%), and 5.57% (5.51-5.64%), respectively, reflecting a dose-response relationship (p trend=0.004). Compared with female non-snorers, the risk of an elevated HbA1c level (top quintile, ≥5.9%) in constant snorers remained significant (odds ratio 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.66) after full adjustment. In addition, in females, a significant linear trend in HbA1c level odds ratio by increased snoring frequency was apparent (p trend=0.019 in model 3). In contrast, no significant association between snoring frequency and HbA1c level was identified in males. No significant association between snoring frequency and HOMA-IR was detected in either gender. We discovered a gender-specific association between snoring and HbA1c level in a healthy, community-dwelling population free of DM.