Short sleep may increase death risk in people with sleep apnea

Credit: Unsplash+.

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open has found that patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who sleep for less than seven hours a night face a higher risk of all-cause mortality.

This research highlights the importance of addressing sleep duration in individuals with OSA, emphasizing the need for further investigation into its underlying mechanisms and potential benefits of sleep interventions.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep, often caused by a temporary airway blockage.

This condition can lead to various health complications, including cardiovascular problems and daytime fatigue.

Researchers from Fujian Medical University in Fuzhou, China, conducted a cohort study to explore the relationship between sleep duration and all-cause mortality in individuals with OSA. The study included 2,574 participants diagnosed with OSA based on their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), with a threshold of ≥15.

Throughout the study, 688 participants experienced all-cause mortality. The research revealed a significant association between shorter sleep durations and an increased mortality risk, independent of the severity of OSA measured by AHI.

Specifically, participants who slept for six to less than seven hours, five to less than six hours, or less than five hours had substantially higher risks of all-cause mortality compared to those who slept at least seven hours. The hazard ratios for these groups were 1.53, 1.40, and 1.64, respectively.

The study’s findings highlight the significance of sleep duration in individuals with OSA. Addressing short sleep duration may be crucial for improving these patients’ overall health and well-being.

The researchers suggest that further research is needed to uncover the underlying mechanisms behind this association. Additionally, exploring potential health benefits related to extending sleep duration in individuals with OSA through sleep education or other sleep interventions is essential.

This study underscores the importance of sleep duration in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea.

Shorter sleep durations are linked to a higher risk of all-cause mortality, emphasizing the need for interventions and further research to better understand and address this issue in OSA patients.

If you care about sleep, please read studies about herb that could help you sleep well at night, and these drugs could lower severity of sleep apnea by one third.

For more information about sleep, please see recent studies that coffee boosts your physical activity, cuts sleep, affects heartbeat, and results showing how to deal with “COVID-somnia” and sleep well at night.

The research findings can be found in JAMA Network Open.

Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.