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Sleep Apnea: 71% Higher Heart Risk Found
3 Apr
Summary
- Obstructive sleep apnea increases cardiovascular events or death risk by 71%.
- Obesity is prevalent in 40-70% of sleep apnea patients.
- Largest matched case-control study outside the US was conducted.
Adults diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) face a 71% increased risk of experiencing cardiovascular events or succumbing to any cause of mortality compared to those without the condition. This finding emerged from a substantial study involving electronic health records from 2.9 million residents.
OSA is characterized by repeated upper airway obstruction during sleep, diminishing sleep quality and heightening cardiovascular risk. The study noted that between 40% and 70% of individuals with OSA are also obese, a condition often associated with more severe OSA symptoms.
The research, which matched 20,300 OSA patients with 97,412 controls, revealed the significant mortality and cardiovascular event risk. These results emphasize the importance of proactive obesity management and prompt screening for OSA. This analysis represents the largest matched case-control study of OSA conducted outside the United States to date.
