COVID Infection Severity Linked To Sleep Disordered Breathing

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open has established a clear link between sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and COVID infection severity. Published in November, the authors note that while contraction of the virus is not related to SDB, severity of outcomes is increased significantly. The primary finding being that people with COVID-19 who experience sleep disordered breathing have a 31% higher likelihood of hospitalization and death.

Sleep disordered breathing is a broad term that encompasses snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Recent estimates indicate that approximately 1 billion people globally suffer from some form of SDB. Sleep disordered breathing impacts health primarily by causing hypoxia; an inadequate saturation of oxygen in the blood. Chronic insufficiency of oxygen can have substantial impacts on long-term health.

Lead author Dr. Cinthya Peña Orbea notes that more research is needed in this area to further understand the precise relationship between SDB and COVID severity. The primary hypothesis in the article is, however, that SDB serves as an “amplifier” of the disease.

If you suspect that either yourself or your partner may have sleep disordered breathing, consult your family doctor and/or a Respiratory/Sleep specialist.

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• Bulk billed sleep studies* • Bulk billed Respiratory & Sleep Specialist telehealth consultations* • CPAP treatment services For more information, contact us on 1300 76 29 39 or at info@thecpapclinic.com.au * Medicare criteria apply

Original Article: Pena Orbea C, Wang L, Shah V, et al. Association of Sleep-Related Hypoxia With Risk of COVID-19 Hospitalizations and Mortality in a Large Integrated Health System. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(11):e2134241.