OBJECTIVE:

Studies investigating the relationship between sleep disorders (SDs) and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) are scarce. The present study from Taiwan evaluated whether the risk of VTE was associated with SDs other than sleep apnea.

METHODS:

The present study investigated the incidence and risk of VTE in 46,371 people with SDs, compared with 92,742 controls without SDs. The follow-up period began from the date of entering the study cohort to the date of a VTE event, censoring, or December 31, 2011. A Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was conducted to estimate the effects of SDs on the risk of VTE.

RESULTS:

The SD cohort had a 1.79-fold adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of subsequent VTE, compared with the non-SD cohort (95% CI 1.49-2.16). The incidence of VTE increased with age for both cohorts but was higher for those in the SD cohort. However, the adjusted HRs for VTE were significantly higher for the people with SDs aged ≦49 years (HR 3.29, 95% CI 2.12-5.12) and 50-64 years (HR 2.43, 95% CI 1.76-3.35), but were not significant for the oldest group (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.84-1.47), compared with the controls. The multiplicative increased risk of VTE was significant for the people with SDs with any comorbidity.

CONCLUSION:

This nationwide cohort study determined that the VTE risk significantly increased in people with SDs compared with those of the general population.