Association between obstructive sleep apnea and atopy in adult Maltese patients

Abstract

The worldwide increase in the prevalence of obesity influences the development and clinical expression of various conditions, including asthma1 and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).2 The association between OSA and atopic conditions has been minimally studied. The association between obesity and atopy is controversial, with conflicting reports.2e4 Obesity is associated with an increased prevalence of asthma and poorer control of this disease5 and increased prevalence of rhinitis and atopic dermatitis.6,7 Asthma symptoms are said to improve after the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).8 The primary objectives of this retrospective, observational study were to study the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis in Maltese patients diagnosed as having OSA using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire9 and to identify whether there is an association between OSA and atopic conditions. The secondary objective was to study the influence of CPAP on these conditions.