Association Between Apolipoprotein E [epsilon]4 and Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Adults.
Kadotani, Hiroshi MD, PhD; Kadotani, Tomiko MD; Young, Terry PhD; Peppard, Paul E. PhD; Finn, Laurel MS; Colrain, Ian M. PhD; Murphy, Greer M. Jr MD, PhD; Mignot, Emmanuel MD, PhD
[Report] JAMA. 285(22):2888-2890, June 13, 2001.

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Context: Apolipoprotein E [epsilon]4 (ApoE [epsilon]4) is a well-known risk factor for Alzheimer disease and cardiovascular disease. Sleep-disordered breathing occurs in Alzheimer disease patients and increases risks for cardiovascular disease. Complex interactions among sleep, brain pathology, and cardiovascular disease may occur in ApoE [epsilon]4 carriers.

Objective: To study whether genetic variation at the level of ApoE is associated with sleep-disordered breathing or sleep abnormalities in the general population.

Design, Setting, and Participants: Ongoing longitudinal cohort study of sleep disorders at a US university beginning in 1989, providing a population-based probability sample of 791 middle-aged adults (mean [SD] age, 49 [8] years; range, 32-68 years).

Main Outcome Measure: Nocturnal polysomnography to evaluate apnea-hypopnea index.

Results: The probability of moderate-to-severe sleep-disordered breathing (apnea-hypopnea index >=15%) was significantly higher in participants with [epsilon]4, independent of age, sex, body mass index, and ethnicity (12.0% vs 7.0%; P =.003). Mean (SEM) apnea-hypopnea index was also significantly higher in participants with ApoE [epsilon]4 (6.5 [0.6] vs 4.8 [0.3]; P =.01). These effects increased with the number of ApoE [epsilon]4 alleles carried.

Conclusions: A significant portion of sleep-disordered breathing is associated with ApoE [epsilon]4 in the general population.

JAMA.2001;285:2888-2890

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