03 Feb , 13:58
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Scientists from medical centers in Taiwan have found that vitamin D deficiency in patients with obstructive sleep apnea increases the risk of heart failure by nearly 45%. The study results were published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
The authors analyzed data from the international TriNetX database for 2010-2022, covering nearly 73 thousand people with apnea. This is a cessation of breathing during sleep, which leads to complete absence or reduction of pulmonary ventilation. Each breathing pause represents a brief stress: blood oxygen levels drop, the heart begins to beat faster, and blood pressure rises.
Patients with severe vitamin D deficiency—levels below 20 ng/ml—were compared with people whose vitamin concentration was within normal range. The groups were matched by age, sex, and comorbidities.
The analysis showed that with vitamin D deficiency, the risk of developing heart failure was 45% higher. Additionally, such patients more frequently experienced all-cause mortality, secondary pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary embolism. With moderate reduction in vitamin D levels (20-29.9 ng/ml), the risks were lower, indicating a pronounced dose-dependent relationship. The most notable effect was observed in patients with obesity.
Researchers note that vitamin D may play a more important role in cardiovascular complications of sleep apnea than previously thought. In their opinion, regular monitoring and correction of its levels could become an additional tool for preventing heart failure in such patients alongside treatment of the sleep breathing disorder itself.
