- Sleep apnea is when people periodically stop breathing while sleeping.
- This can occur due to the relaxation of muscles in the mouth so that the tongue presses against the throat.
- Sleep apnea can increase the risk for a variety of health problems.
- Results from three recent studies have revealed that sleep apnea is associated with increased risk for cancer, declines in mental processing, and blood clots.
Sleep apnea is a condition that impacts how people breathe when they are asleep. It can contribute to increased risk for several health problems. However, experts still don’t know the full health risks related to sleep apnea.
Results from three different studies were shared at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2022. These three studies noted that sleep apnea was associated with increased cancer risks, mental capacity declines, and blood clots.
What is sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person’s breathing stops periodically while they sleep. In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the breathing stops because the upper airway becomes blocked.
Some people are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea if they have certain risk factors such as obesity, alcohol use, or smoking. Sleep apnea is also related to a few different health problems. For example, it can impact oxygen levels in the body, which can be dangerous.
Dr. Kevin Postol, family and cosmetic dentist, diplomate at the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, also explained some health risks associated with sleep apnea to MNT:
“Patients can have excessive daytime sleepiness, which can lead to them having more traffic accidents. There are declines in mental health for some patients who are not getting enough quality sleep and, in turn, have depression and mood disorders.”
“Patients who have high blood pressure have a tendency to see their blood pressure spike if they do not treat their sleep apnea. More patients are prone to having strokes and heart attacks, especially when they’re sleeping at night, because their blood pressure is not kept under control.”
— Dr. Kevin Postol
Experts are still working to understand the full health risks associated with sleep apnea.
The dangers of sleep apnea
More data is emerging about the dangers related to sleep apnea. At the most recent ERS International Congress, experts shared the unique findings of three separate studies on the health impacts of obstructive sleep apnea.
The cancer link
The first study researched the association between cancer and obstructive sleep apnea. The study was a population-based, cross-sectional study that involved over 2,000 participants with obstructive sleep apnea and cancer, matched with a control group of equal size with obstructive sleep apnea but with no cancer.
Researchers found that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk for cancer.
Study author Dr. Andreas Palm, researcher and senior consultant at Uppsala University, Sweden, shared the results at the congress and explained the following in a recent press release:
“It is known already that patients with obstructive sleep apnea have an increased risk of cancer but it has not been clear whether or not this is due to the OSA itself or to related risk factors for cancer, such as obesity, cardiometabolic disease, and lifestyle factors,” he said.
“Our findings show that oxygen deprivation due to OSA is independently associated with cancer.”
— Dr. Andreas Palm
The cognitive decline link
The second study looked at the association between cognitive decline and obstructive sleep apnea. The study included 358 participants ages 65 and older and involved a 5-year follow-up time.
Researchers found that obstructive sleep apnea was associated with greater executive function and processing declines among participants ages 74 and older and men.
Across all groups, they found that low blood oxygen levels were associated with more significant declines in processing speed, memory, and overall cognitive decline. Low oxygen levels in the blood can happen among people with obstructive sleep apnea.
The blood clot link
Finally, the third study looked at having obstructive sleep apnea and the risk of developing blood clots. Blood clots can be life threatening, so it is essential to identify and manage potential risk factors.
The study analysis included over 7,000 participants followed over 6 years, and 104 developed unprovoked blood clots.
Researchers found that severe obstructive sleep apnea was associated with a greater risk of developing blood clots.
Overall, the data from these studies indicate that obstructive sleep apnea is associated with a wide range of potential health risks.
Dr. Azizi Seixas, director of the Media and Innovation Lab, associate director for the Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences, and director for Population Health Informatics in the Institute for Data Science and Computing at the University of Miami, shared his thoughts on these findings:
“The studies add to a growing body of work that indicates the adverse downstream effects of OSA on health, such as VTE, cancer risk, and cognitive decline. This is consistent with my work that shows that sleep is an omniphenomenon where it can act as a correlate, risk factor, artifact, or predictor of poor health outcomes.”
Cause yet unclear
However, it can be dangerous and premature to base clinical recommendations on results from a single study. Each study presented at the ERS International Congress was not without limits.
For example, these studies looked at associated risks but could not determine cause. Each only included a certain number of participants, so greater follow-up may be needed to confirm the findings found in each study.
Dr. Seixas noted that researchers need to carry out more causal studies.
“Studies need to include more diverse groups since it is well documented that racial/ethnic minorities are at greater risk for sleep problems like OSA, and other chronic diseases like cancer, cardiometabolic conditions and dementia (Alzheimer’s disease),” he added.
However, the studies serve as a warning for people with sleep apnea to seek treatment and appropriate follow-up to help prevent long-term complications.
Dr. Postol explained that the process of getting sleep apnea treatment can be complex but that it’s getting easier:
“One recent [statistic] indicates over 33% of adults over the age of 20 have symptoms of OSA, but they do not seek medical evaluations. This is a huge crisis currently going on. Part of the issue is that patients have to go through many steps to try and get treatment, including diagnosis.”
“Patients often think there is only one way to get diagnosed [with sleep apnea], participating in a lab sleep study. This is not true, as most sleep studies are done at home nowadays and are much easier to do. Studies can be ordered by most primary care physicians or sleep physicians. Then when it comes to treatment, patients think there is only one choice, wearing a CPAP at night. This is also not true, as an oral appliance is a viable option.”
— Dr. Kevin Postol
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