Sleep Apnea & Pollution: Higher Severity Risk
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.
- A recent multi-national study presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in amsterdam investigated the relationship between air pollution and the severity of OSA symptoms.
- According to Professor Pengo, "We know that OSA is more common in people who are older or overweight, but there's growing concern that air pollution also might make...
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Air Pollution Worsens Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms, Study Finds
Table of Contents
What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common condition where breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep. Patients often experience loud snoring, frequent awakenings, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Beyond sleep disruption,OSA is linked to a higher risk of serious health problems including high blood pressure,stroke,heart disease,and type 2 diabetes. Many individuals are unaware they have OSA, highlighting the importance of diagnosis and management.
Study Findings: Air Pollution and OSA Severity
A recent multi-national study presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in amsterdam investigated the relationship between air pollution and the severity of OSA symptoms. The research, led by Martino Pengo from the university of milano-Bicocca and Istituto auxologico italiano IRCCS, milan, italy, analyzed data from 19,325 OSA patients across 25 European cities in 14 countries.
According to Professor Pengo, “We know that OSA is more common in people who are older or overweight, but there’s growing concern that air pollution also might make the condition worse. However, previous studies, mostly focused on just one country, have produced mixed results. We wanted to look at this on a larger scale, across several European cities, to better understand if and how air pollution affects OSA.”
Methodology: Data Collection and Analysis
The study utilized data from the European Sleep Apnoea Database, a larger ongoing research project. Patient data included age, sex, BMI, smoking status, and results from sleep studies used to diagnose OSA. These sleep studies measured breathing pauses and oxygen levels during sleep, allowing for the calculation of the Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI).
Researchers correlated patient data with PM10 concentration levels in their respective residential areas, obtained from the Europe-wide Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. PM10 refers to particulate matter 10 micrometers or smaller in diameter,originating from sources like vehicle exhaust and industrial processes.
Key Results: PM10 and AHI Correlation
The analysis revealed a statistically significant, albeit modest, correlation between PM10 concentration and the patients’ Apnea hypopnea Index (AHI). For every one-unit increase in PM10, there was a measurable increase in AHI.
For example, patients with a low AHI (less than five events per hour) lived in areas with an average PM10 concentration of around 16 micrograms per cubic meter of air. Conversely, patients with a high AHI (five or more events per hour) resided in areas with higher average PM10 concentrations.
| AHI Group | Average PM10 Concentration (µg/m³) |
|---|---|
| Low AHI ( < 5) | ~16 |
| high AHI (≥ 5) | Higher than ~1
|