In explaining why these results differed from previous studies, Dr. Kwon said the study populations or their characteristics may be the cause, or that MRI-based measures of aortic properties have not been extensively studied before. “This is probably the first study to look at an unselected population, use a large sample size that was ethnically diverse, and use cardiac MRI technology,” he said.
Limitations he noted were the study’s cross-sectional nature and its small population of patients with enlarged thoracic aorta size, which left it underpowered to evaluate that population.
Dr. Kwon reported having no financial relationships.
SOURCE: Kwon Y et al. SLEEP 2018, Abstract #0465.