Can Sleep Apnea Cause Death?

The question, can sleep apnea cause death, is at the center of recent studies into the sleep disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. US researchers have established a link between sleep apnea and a significantly higher risk of death. The mortality risk is even greater if the disease goes untreated.

Accurate diagnosis of sleep apnea involves a night’s stay in a sleep clinic. The three symptoms most typical of the condition are morning headaches, excessive daytime sleepiness, and a bed partner who complains about a lot of snoring during the night.

The study, known as the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort monitored 1522 men and women aged 30 to 60 who were generally healthy at the start of the study. Each person spent a night under observation in a sleep clinic and underwent a sleep test to check for abnormal breathing.

Participants who were diagnosed with sleep apnea were two to three times more likely to die during the 18-year period than those without sleep apnea. Those with severe sleep apnea faced the greatest risk of death.

If untreated, people with sleep apnea were four times as likely to die from any cause than those without and five times more likely to die from cardiovascular conditions than those without.

If the disease is not treated, sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and stroke. Drowsiness during the workday can adversely affect work and school performance as well as heighten the likelihood of accidents while operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle.

Anyone can sleep apnea, regardless of age, but the condition is more common in men. People who are older or overweight are at increased risk for sleep apnea.