Combined effect of COPD and sleep apnea on heart disease and mortality

What is it about?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ([COPD] irreversible airway obstruction)) and obstructive sleep apnea (repetitive upper airway obstruction during sleep) are highly prevalent chronic diseases in the general population. An individual who has features of these two conditions exhibits an overlap syndrome. Having an overlap syndrome may change the cause, severity and adverse health consequences of each disease as compared to having the disease alone. We test this theory using linked clinical and health administrative data. The highest risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause death was found in individuals with both COPD and severe sleep apnea with low blood oxygen level in sleep as compared to each condition alone. However, a significant synergistic effect was observed only in women.

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Why is it important?

Our findings may help to identify individuals with COPD to be screened for sleep apnea and to be treated with positive airway pressure treatment to prevent heart disease development and to improve survival. These findings may be also used to understand sex-related sleep apnea and/or COPD phenotypes.

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