AAN 2022 | Obstructive sleep apnea in the Hispanic community

Alberto Ramos, MD, FAAN, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, shares his work investigating sleep and cardiovascular health disparities in the Hispanic population in the US. The Hispanic Community Health Study is a large population-based observational study that started in 2008. More recently, they have evaluated the different associations with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and how it is associated with various cardiometabolic disorders such as hypertension and diabetes. One of the recent Hispanic Community Health Study efforts was a cluster analysis that identified three classes: asymptomatic OSA, insomnia OSA, and daytime sleepiness OSA. It was observed that OSA subtypes in US Hispanic/Latino adults have different cardiovascular complications, even those with asymptomatic OSA. Follow-up studies are looking to improve the detection of patients who are more at risk of developing OSA, more so in those with a higher risk of cardiovascular issues. This interview took place at the American Academy of Neurology 2022 Congress in Seattle, WA.