Evaluation of the association between obstructive sleep apnea and prostate-specific antigen in the epidemiologic sleep study of São Paulo (EPISONO - 4th edition)

• Grant number: 21/05920-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: November 01, 2021
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Sergio Tufik
• Grantee: Allan Saj Porcacchia
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sleep is essential to maintain an individual's health and well-being. Sleep disturbances, such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), are associated with other disorders. Recently, the participation of sleep and its alterations in pathways related to Cancer development has been suggested. Cancer is one of the most significant health problems in the world and Prostate Cancer is the most prevalent non-cutaneous tumor among men in Western countries. Epidemiological studies have shown that 1 in 9 men will develop this disease during their lifetime. Many factors influence Prostate Cancer and the tumor niche, which includes hormones, family history of the disease, and genetic mutations. The Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is currently one of the main biomarkers evaluated in preventive exams screening for this Cancer, although its biological effects on the tumor are not known yet. Alterations resulting from OSA, in hormonal, inflammatory and hypoxia pathways, have been suggested as important factors in the biology of Cancer. Objective: This project aims to evaluate the effects of OSA on clinical data related to PSA concentration, Body Mass Index (BMI), and levels of pro-inflammatory hormones and cytokines in a male population sample from the city of São Paulo/SP. Methods: Data were collected from the Epidemiologic Sleep Study of São Paulo (EPISONO - 4th Edition), conducted between 2018 and 2019. This survey included results of sleep assessment questionnaires, polysomnography analyzes, and clinical hematological tests. Subjects will be distributed in groups with and without diagnosed OSA. Through descriptive analysis and statistical tools of multivariate models, possible associations between OSA and PSA will be assessed, considering factors that can modulate this relationship, including BMI, hormones, and cytokines. Effects of OSA on serum concentrations of 17²-estradiol, testosterone, prolactin, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-±, IL-6 and IL-1²) will also be investigated. It is expected that the results of this project reinforce the need to consider OSA as a public health issue, with implications on other diseases with significant population prevalence, such as Prostate Cancer. (AU)

Scientific publications

(9)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ISHIKURA, ISABELA A.; PORCACCHIA, ALLAN SAJ; HACHUL, HELENA; TUFIK, SERGIO; ANDERSEN, MONICA L.. Insomnia Symptoms and Menstrual Health: Is There a Link in Women During Reproductive Phase of Life?. BEHAVIORAL SLEEP MEDICINE, v. 22, n. 5, p. 9-pg., 2024-06-01. (20/13467-8, 21/05920-7)

ISHIKURA, ISABELA; PORCACCHIA, ALLAN; HACHUL, HELENA; TUFIK, SERGIO; ANDERSEN, MONICA. FATIGUE, ANXIETY AND HEAVY MENSTRUAL FLOW INTERFERE IN SEVERE INSOMNIA SYMPTOMS OF WOMEN AT REPRODUCTIVE AGE. Sleep, v. 47, p. 2-pg., 2024-05-01. (20/13467-8, 21/05920-7)

PORCACCHIA, A. SAJ; PIRES, G. N.; ANDERSEN, M. L.; TUFIK, S.. ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SLEEP DISORDERS AND CANCER USING DATA FROM THE NATIONAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEY (NHANES) 2005-2014. Sleep Medicine, v. 115, p. 2-pg., 2024-02-01. (20/13467-8, 21/05920-7)

FONSECA, LARISSA; ISHIKURA, ISABELA; PORCACCHIA, ALLAN; HACHUL, HELENA; TUFIK, SERGIO; ANDERSEN, MONICA. HOW DO SLEEP PATTERNS RELATE TO LOW SEXUAL FUNCTION IN WOMEN? A STUDY FROM THE EPISONO DATABASE. Sleep, v. 48, p. 2-pg., 2025-05-01. (21/05920-7, 20/13467-8)

TUFIK, SERGIO BRASIL; PIRES, GABRIEL NATAN; PORCACCHIA, ALLAN SAJ; BEZERRA, ANDREIA GOMES; ANDERSEN, MONICA LEVY; TUFIK, SERGIO. Impact of the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sleep patterns of a Brazilian population sample. CHRONOBIOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, v. 40, n. 8, p. 13-pg., 2023-09-14. (21/05920-7)

LUCIANO, Y. M.; PORCACCHIA, A. S.; TUFIK, S.; ANDERSEN, M. L.; PIRES, G. N.. PREVALENCE AND INCIDENCE OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN INSOMNIA AND OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (COMISA) IN THE CITY OF SaO PAULO. Sleep Medicine, v. 115, p. 1-pg., 2024-02-01. (22/08677-9, 21/05920-7)

MORELHAO, PRISCILA; PINTO, RAFAEL; PORCACCHIA, ALLAN; GOBBI, CYNTHIA; FRANCO, MARCIA; KAKAZU, VIVIANE; TUFIK, SERGIO; ANDERSEN, MONICA. The Mediating Role of Sleep Quality in the Association Between Depression and Pain Intensity in Older Adults. Sleep, v. 48, p. 1-pg., 2025-05-01. (21/05920-7, 22/00328-5, 15/11877-6, 20/13467-8)

PORCACCHIA, ALLAN SAJ; PIRES, GABRIEL NATAN; ORTIZ, VALDEMAR; ANDERSEN, MONICA LEVY; TUFIK, SERGIO. Prostate cancer mortality and costs of prostate surgical procedures in the Brazilian public health system. INTERNATIONAL BRAZ J UROL, v. 48, n. 3, p. 8-pg., 2022-05-01. (21/05920-7)

ANDERSEN, MONICA LEVY; PORCACCHIA, ALLAN SAJ; FERNANDES, GUILHERME LUIZ; ALVARENGA, TATHIANA A.; TUFIK, SERGIO. Unraveling the intersection of sleep disorders and erectile dysfunction: Outcomes from two EPISONO editions. ANDROLOGY, v. N/A, p. 13-pg., 2025-06-04. (20/13467-8, 21/05920-7)