Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common heterogeneous sleep disorder that significantly impacts the sleep quality of individuals and leads to severe complications. Patients with OSA often experience disrupted circadian rhythm, hyperactive hypoxia response, and endothelial dysfunction, yet the underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly known. Recent research suggests promising evidence of the potential role of SIRT1 in the etiology of OSA, warranting further investigation. METHODS: We investigated the associations of the SIRT1 promoter variant (rs7895833A > G) with OSA severity in 199 individuals who underwent an overnight polysomnography at the sleep clinic. RESULTS: The minor allele frequency was observed as 0.309 in males (n = 149) and 0.310 in females (n = 50). No significant associations were observed between genotypes and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in the entire sample. However, we observed a significant association (p = 0.034) between the rs7895833-G and the severity of OSA in females stratified by AHI. Additionally, we found statistically significant inverse correlations between age and SIRT1 protein levels in the total sample (p = 0.013) and the male group (p = 0.018), suggesting a potential age-related expression of SIRT1. Our analysis also confirmed the published literature, showing correlations between the AHI and clinical parameters such as age, BMI, Epworth sleepiness scale, and neck circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, SIRT1 may indirectly affect OSA pathogenesis, which might be influenced by gender. Further detailed analysis involving large population-based biobanks, especially focusing on gender-based differences, will improve our understanding of the role and potential of SIRT1 in OSA management.