Date of Conferral

2015

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

MICHEL J. BENIN

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence rate of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as an independent variable in association with hypertension as an outcome. Studies conducted outside of the United States suggest that differences in craniofacial features among middle-aged Asians increase the prevalence of OSA in comparison to Caucasians with similar age and lower BMI. No similar study had been conducted in the United States. The sufficient component cause theory guided this study and was able to describe the association between OSA and hypertension among middle-aged Asians. The objective of this cross sectional retrospective study was to determine the prevalence rate of OSA and the association between OSA and hypertension among a sample of 462 middle-aged Asian patients. Also, the study evaluated the association of 8 clinical parameters: age, gender, smoking, body mass index, Mallampati score, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Apnea-Hypopnea-Index, and hypertension. The logistic regression analysis showed that OSA is associated with hypertension. The model containing the 8 variables was statistically significant, x2 (8, N = 462) = 139.59, p < .000). Age was the strongest predictor among the 8 variables. This study showed that OSA is common among middle-age Asians. This research may necessitate the need to evaluate to change current medical awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of OSA and hypertension among Asians, which could reduce the cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality.

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