• 1. The First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, P. R. China;
  • 2. The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, P. R. China;
WANG Kai, Email: 827108327@qq.com
Export PDF Favorites Scan Get Citation

Objective To investigate the causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with its typical symptoms (snoring and daytime sleepiness) by using Mendelian randomization. Methods The inverse-variance weighted method was used as the main analysis method to assess the causal effect. Sensitivity and pleiotropy analyses were carried out using leave-one-out and MR-Egger analysis, and then heterogeneity tests were conducted. Results In the MR analysis, genetically predicted GERD was associated with a greater risk of OSA (IVW: OR=1.528, 95%CI 1.374 to 1.699, P=5.315E‒15). Additional MR results were consistent with the IVW results, and no pleiotropy or heterogeneity were found. We also discovered a significant causal relationship between GRED and snoring (IVW: OR=0.959, 95%CI 0.949 to 0.969, P=1.507E‒15), and Daytime sleepiness (IVW: OR=1.024, 95%CI 1.021 to 1.036, P=4.580E‒5), with no evidence of pleiotropy. Conclusion The MR study supports a causal effect between GERD and OSA with its typical symptoms (daytime sleepiness and snoring).