World Sleep 2022 | Genetic analysis for risk factors in OSA

Brain Cade, PhD, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, shares his perspectives on the use of genetic analysis in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) studies. Dr Cade believes that the further integration of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) is key to increasing the power of OSA phenotyping. The largest association reported includes the interleukin-18 receptors and aspects of sleep disorder breathing, particularly oxygen saturation levels. A recent analysis from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program has revealed an association between NRG-1 and sleepiness in a UK-based biobank. The recent identification of the ERBB4 gene as a binding partner for NRG-1 suggests a bi-directional relationship between disordered sleep and inflammation. This interview was recorded at the World Sleep Congress 2022 in Rome, Italy.