Researchers found that oxygen deficiency caused by obstructive sleep apnea increased the susceptibility of mice to develop abdominal aortic aneurysms. 

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Summary: A study from the University of Missouri School of Medicine and NextGen Precision Health found a link between obstructive sleep apnea and an increased risk of developing abdominal aortic aneurysms. The research showed that intermittent hypoxia caused by obstructive sleep apnea can make the aorta more susceptible to aneurysm formation, especially when combined with other metabolic conditions like obesity. The study’s findings suggest a potential need for monitoring and slowing the progression of aneurysms in patients with sleep apnea.

Three Key Takeaways:

1. Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Risk Factor: Obstructive sleep apnea, particularly the intermittent hypoxia it causes, may increase the risk of developing abdominal aortic aneurysms.
2. Aorta Weakening Mechanism: The loss of oxygen during sleep apnea activates enzymes (MMPs) that degrade the aorta’s structure, increasing the chance of aneurysm formation.
3. Monitoring Sleep Apnea Patients: The study highlights the importance of monitoring abdominal aortic aneurysms in sleep apnea patients, especially those with additional risk factors like obesity.

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Obstructive sleep apnea may be a risk factor for developing abdominal aortic aneurysms, according to researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine and NextGen Precision Health.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur when the main artery, the aorta, swells and potentially ruptures, causing life-threatening internal bleeding. Citing studies that indicate a higher prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, University of Missouri researchers examined the link between the two using mouse models. 

The research team found that intermittent hypoxia—when the body isn’t getting enough oxygen for a given period of time—caused by obstructive sleep apnea increased the susceptibility of mice to develop abdominal aortic aneurysms. 

“Chronic intermittent hypoxia by itself is not enough to cause abdominal aortic aneurysms, but for a patient with obstructive sleep apnea who also has additional metabolic problems like obesity, our findings suggest it may help degrade aortic structures and promote aneurysm development,” says Luis Martinez-Lemus, DVM, PhD, study author, a professor of medical pharmacology and physiology, and a NextGen Precision Health investigator, in a release.

Hypoxia in Sleep Apnea May Trigger Aneurysm Development

Intermittent hypoxia happens during obstructive sleep apnea when throat muscles relax and block the flow of air into the lungs. According to the research, the loss of oxygen triggers certain enzymes called MMPs. The increased enzyme activity can degrade the extracellular matrix, which acts like a cell scaffolding network, weakening the aorta. 

“Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms usually don’t notice any symptoms, except for some back and belly pain, until the aneurysm bursts. Once that happens, it’s crucial to get the patient to surgery quickly so doctors can repair the aorta,” says Neekun Sharma, the lead author of the study and an assistant research professor in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism in the Department of Medicine, in a release. “Learning how these aneurysms develop can help us find ways to monitor or slow down their progression, especially for patients who have obstructive sleep apnea.” 

The study was published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

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