New analysis in eClinicalMedicine reveals that just about half of individuals with obstructive sleep apnea are usually not overweight, difficult long-held assumptions and calling for extra inclusive screening methods.
Examine: The connection between weight problems and obstructive sleep apnea in 4 community-based cohorts: a person participant information meta-analysis of 12,860 adults. Picture Credit score: Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock.com
Weight problems is taken into account a major danger issue for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); nonetheless, few large-scale epidemiological research have been carried out study the prevalence of weight problems amongst people identified with OSA. In a current examine printed in eClinicalMedicine, researchers assess the prevalence of each weight problems and OSA whereas additionally contemplating the function of age and intercourse on this relationship.
Threat elements for OSA
OSA is a situation during which the higher airway repeatedly collapses whereas the person is sleeping. OSA will increase the danger of heart problems, cognitive decline, diminished high quality of life, and mortality.
Weight problems is related to the next danger of OSA; due to this fact, weight discount is usually advisable handle this situation. In weight problems, fats accumulates across the tongue and higher respiratory tract, thereby narrowing the airway and growing the danger of its collapse as in comparison with non-obese folks.
Overweight people with central weight problems additionally usually have smaller lung volumes, which can negatively influence air flow management. A number of endocrine, inflammatory, and metabolic elements additionally contribute to OSA in weight problems.
Importantly, a big proportion of people identified with OSA are usually not overweight. Different elements that predispose people to OSA embrace abnormally hyporesponsive higher airway dilator muscle mass or an unstable ventilatory management system. In these circumstances, a slender skeletal construction, excessively lengthy airway, or bigger tender palates may contribute to the event of OSA within the absence of weight problems.
In regards to the examine
All examine members had been assessed for OSA severity utilizing the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Apnea was outlined as an entire or near-complete cessation of airflow, whereas hypopnea was characterised by a partial discount in airflow for at the least ten seconds. The variety of these occasions each hour of sleep had been recorded.
Delicate, reasonable, and extreme OSA had been outlined because the presence of 15 or fewer occasions, between 15 and 30 occasions, and 30 or extra occasions, respectively.
A complete of 12,860 adults with a imply age of 67 years had been included within the present examine. Information from these people had been obtained from 4 cohort research carried out in the USA and Switzerland, thereby making this the most important epidemiological examine on OSA to this point.
About 56% of examine members had been identified with OSA, which was outlined by an AHI of 5 or extra occasions. Furthermore, 3,309 adults had been thought of overweight with a physique mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or better.
Prevalence of weight problems
Though 31.5% of individuals with OSA had been overweight, 44% had been thought of obese. Of the examine members identified with moderate-to-severe OSA, 39% and 42% had been overweight and obese, respectively. For extreme OSA, 47% and 37% of those people had been thought of overweight or obese, respectively.
These findings counsel that OSA, regardless of typically being related to weight problems, is broadly prevalent amongst people of regular weight. The misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of OSA amongst people with a BMI of 25 kg/m2 or much less additional will increase their danger of significant well being issues related to this situation.
Prevalence of OSA
Amongst overweight members, 74% had been identified with OSA, 41% and 18% of whom had been identified with moderate-to-severe or extreme OSA, respectively. In obese people, OSA and moderate-to-severe OSA affected 61% and 26%, respectively.
Being obese was related to a 118% elevated danger of OSA as in comparison with regular weight people. In overweight folks, the danger of OSA elevated by almost five-fold that in regular weight people.
OSA was extra frequent amongst overweight males at 81% as in comparison with 64% of overweight females. Comparatively, females with OSA had been extra prone to be overweight than males at 40% and 30%, respectively.
Conclusions
Most examine members with OSA weren’t overweight, with 44% thought of obese and 24% of regular weight or underweight. Nevertheless, females had been extra prone to be overweight in the event that they had been identified with OSA as in comparison with males. Youthful folks had been additionally at a better danger of being identified with OSA as in comparison with these above 65 years.
Recognizing OSA just isn’t unique to weight problems highlights the necessity for personalised therapy plans.”
Sooner or later, screening and therapy methods for OSA should think about that OSA extra steadily happens in obese or regular weight folks. This statement emphasizes the significance of accelerating public consciousness in regards to the totally different danger elements and displays of OSA.
Journal reference:
Esmaeili, N., Gell, L., Imler, Theo, et al. (2025). The connection between weight problems and obstructive sleep apnea in 4 community-based cohorts: a person participant information meta-analysis of 12,860 adults. The Lancet. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103221.
