Associations between breath acetone overnight dynamics and obstructive sleep apnea manifestations
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Objective
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with metabolic dysregulation, potentially affecting ketone body metabolism. However, relationships between OSA and ketone body metabolism require further investigation. Thus, in this study, we investigated relationships between breath acetone levels and OSA manifestations (e.g., hypoxia and arousal events).
Methods
Baseline characteristics were collected from 66 eligible participants, and breath acetone levels were measured before and after polysomnography (PSG). Participants were categorized into two groups using the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): normal-to-mild (< 15 events/h) and moderate-to-severe (≥ 15 events/h) OSA groups. Differences in baseline characteristics, PSG parameters, and breath acetone levels between the two groups were analyzed. Next, correlations analyses and multivariable regression models adjusted for baseline characteristics were performed to examine relationships between alterations in breath acetone levels and various sleep parameters.
Results
Significant differences were observed between the two groups in baseline characteristics, sleep quality indices and the overnight difference in acetone levels (all p < 0.01). Additionally, the overnight difference in acetone levels exhibited significant negative correlations (p < 0.01) with the AHI, arousal index (ArI), and snoring index. In regression models adjusted for confounding factors, this overnight acetone difference remained significantly and negatively associated with both AHI and ArI values (both p < 0.05).
Conclusions
The present observations provide insight into potential links between overnight breath acetone alterations and OSA manifestations.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with metabolic dysregulation, potentially affecting ketone body metabolism. However, relationships between OSA and ketone body metabolism require further investigation. Thus, in this study, we investigated relationships between breath acetone levels and OSA manifestations (e.g., hypoxia and arousal events).
Methods
Baseline characteristics were collected from 66 eligible participants, and breath acetone levels were measured before and after polysomnography (PSG). Participants were categorized into two groups using the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): normal-to-mild (< 15 events/h) and moderate-to-severe (≥ 15 events/h) OSA groups. Differences in baseline characteristics, PSG parameters, and breath acetone levels between the two groups were analyzed. Next, correlations analyses and multivariable regression models adjusted for baseline characteristics were performed to examine relationships between alterations in breath acetone levels and various sleep parameters.
Results
Significant differences were observed between the two groups in baseline characteristics, sleep quality indices and the overnight difference in acetone levels (all p < 0.01). Additionally, the overnight difference in acetone levels exhibited significant negative correlations (p < 0.01) with the AHI, arousal index (ArI), and snoring index. In regression models adjusted for confounding factors, this overnight acetone difference remained significantly and negatively associated with both AHI and ArI values (both p < 0.05).
Conclusions
The present observations provide insight into potential links between overnight breath acetone alterations and OSA manifestations.
Date Issued
2025-11-27
Date Acceptance
2025-10-27
Citation
BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 2025, 25
ISSN
1471-2466
Publisher
BMC
Start Page
548
Journal / Book Title
BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Volume
25
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2025.Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/41310568
PII: 10.1186/s12890-025-04021-0
Subjects
Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)
Arousal index (ArI)
Breath acetone
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Polysomnography (PSG)
Humans
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive
Male
Acetone
Female
Middle Aged
Polysomnography
Adult
Breath Tests
Snoring
Severity of Illness Index
Hypoxia
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Article Number
548
Date Publish Online
2025-11-27