Headache and cognitive dysfunctions in snorers. A cross-sectional study of 3323 men aged 54 to 74 years: the Copenhagen Male Study
P. Jennum, H. O. Hein, P. Suadicani and F. Gyntelberg
Department of Neurology, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
OBJECTIVE: Cognitive symptoms, headache, and sleep-related complaints,
including snoring, are commonly reported by patients with sleep apnea.
Because patients with sleep apnea generally are snorers, we decided to
study whether snoring per se is associated with cognitive complaints and
headache. DESIGN: Cross-sectional epidemiologic follow-up study. SETTING:
General community. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 3323 men, aged 54 to 74 years,
previously selected from among employees of public or private companies in
the Copenhagen, Denmark, area. METHOD: Participants were classified
according to self-reported snoring habits and these were compared with
self-reported cognitive complaints and headache. Fourteen potential
confounders were included. RESULTS: The odds ratio (95% confidence
interval) for headache was 1.5 (1.3 to 1.8, P < .0001) for self-reported
snorers after adjustments for age, body mass index, and alcohol and tobacco
consumption, whereas no relationships were found between snoring and memory
or concentration problems in the total population. Snoring was not related
to use of central nervous system medication; previous stroke; presence of
parkinsonism, epilepsy, or psychiatric diseases; previous head trauma; or
exposure to organic solvents. Hypersomnia was significantly associated with
snoring (P < .0001), headache (P < .0001), memory problems (P <
.0001), concentration problems (P < .0001), age (P < .01), body mass
index (P < .001), and alcohol consumption (P < .05) and negatively
correlated with smoking (P < .0001). Irrespective of the severity of
hypersomnia, no association was found between snoring and memory or
concentration problems. The relationship between snoring and headache was
independent of severity of hypersomnia. CONCLUSIONS: Snoring is associated
with headache but not with cognitive dysfunction. Hypersomnia shows a
correlation to cognitive problems. If associations are found between
snoring and cognitive dysfunction, these may be related in part to the
presence of hypersomnia.
