The Mediating Effect of Oral Health on the Relationship between the Number of Walking Days and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Middle-Aged Koreans: Using Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination (2019-2020)

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the mediating effect of oral health problems on the effects of walking exercise on risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019-2020, and hierarchical regression was performed to confirm the mediating effect of oral health problems (chewing and speaking problems) and the effect of walking days on OSA risk factors (snoring, tiredness, witness). Results: The number of days of walking had no significant effect on OSA risk factors (β= -.011, p>.05). Oral health problem as a parameter had a significant effect on OSA risk factors [; thus] it was confirmed that there was a fully mediating effect (β=.049, p<.001). Conclusions: Based on the results, it is necessary to continuously promote the importance of walking exercise and oral health in the treatment of OSA.