ESC Congress 2026 Abstract · Oct 26, 2026
Associations between magnetic resonance imaging-based aortic stiffness parameters and obstructive sleep apnea: insights from a population-based cohort study
By Riedl KA, Reuter K, Boettcher A et al.
Background: Aortic stiffness (AS) parameters as pulse wave velocity (PWV), aortic distensibility of the ascending and descending aorta (AD AoAsc, AD AoDesc) and pulse pressure (PP) are marker for vascular ageing, whereas data concerning obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in large-scale population-based cohorts are sparse. Purpose: Thus, we aimed to identify possible associations of AS with OSA in a cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) cohort of a large-scale population-based cohort study. Methods: In this population-based cohort-study PWV and AD were quantified by 2D-phase-contrast-CMR-measuring-methods and PP by non-invasive blood pressure. OSA was defined as self-reported OSA by study-interviews and/or a combination of snoring, respiratory arrest and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)>10. Logistic regression analyses were performed for adjustment for age and sex. Results: In the cohort of 1,498 participants (median age 66 years, 39.0% female), 143 (9.5%) participants demonstrated OSA. In the OSA cohort, the rate of males was significantly higher (p<0.001), as well as the rate of hypertension (p<0.001), and of coronary artery disease (p=0.037). Comparing individuals with and without OSA, median PWV and AD values (p=0.741, p=0.145, p=0.191) were not significantly different, but median PP was significantly higher in the OSA cohort (p=0.003). In male OSA participants, median AD AoAsc and AD AoDesc were significantly lower and median PP significantly higher (p=0.006, p=0.015, p<0.001). Before and after adjustment for age and sex, OSA was significantly associated with lower AD AoDesc (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.474 [0.231, 0.973], p=0.042) and higher PP values (OR 1.020 [1.007, 1.033], p=0.002), but not with PWV and AD AoAsc (p=0.436, p=0.401) (Figure 1). The effect of adjustment was predominantly driven by sex (all p<0.001). Conclusions: OSA was significantly associated with higher PP and lower AD AoDesc values, before and after adjustment for age and sex. Therefore, PP and AD AoDesc might be possible (imaging) biomarkers for risk stratification.