Scientists from medical centers in Taiwan have found that in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of heart failure by almost 45%. The study results were published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
The authors analyzed data from the international TriNetX database between 2010 and 2022, which included nearly 73,000 people with obstructive sleep apnea. This is a pause in breathing during sleep, which leads to a complete absence or reduction of pulmonary ventilation. Each breath pause represents a brief stress response; the level of oxygen in the blood decreases, the heart begins to beat faster, and the blood pressure increases.
Patients with severe vitamin D deficiency, with levels below 20 ng/ml, were compared with people with normal vitamin D levels. Groups were matched for age, sex, and comorbidities.
The analysis showed that those with vitamin D deficiency had a 45% higher risk of developing heart failure. Furthermore, these patients had higher rates of all-cause mortality, secondary pulmonary hypertension, and pulmonary thromboembolism. For moderate reductions in vitamin D levels (20-29.9 ng/mL), the risks were low, suggesting a strong dose-response relationship. The most significant effect was observed in obese patients.
Vitamin D may play a more significant role in the cardiovascular complications of sleep apnea than previously thought, researchers say. They believe that regular monitoring and correction of its levels may be an additional tool to prevent heart failure in these patients, along with the treatment of sleep disorders.
