How dangerous is sleep apnoea?

Sleep apnoea is widespread but is frequently missed. Globally, an estimated nearly one billion people are affected. In a large Swiss population study, almost half of men (49.7%) and just over a quarter of women (23.4%) had a moderate to severe form^1,2.

The greatest dangers involve the heart. More than 15 breathing interruptions per hour significantly raises your risk of coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke and cardiac arrhythmias. In one study, people with sleep apnoea had nearly twice the chance of stroke or death, even after correcting for smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure^3,4.

Beyond the heart, there are further risks. People with the most severe forms had a 60% higher chance of high blood pressure, twice the chance of diabetes, 2.8 times the chance of metabolic syndrome and nearly twice the chance of depression². There also appears to be a link with joint problems: people with osteoarthritis of the knee, hip or hand are around 45 to 50% more likely to develop sleep apnoea, although that is not yet a proven causal relationship⁵.

Do you also suffer from insomnia on top of sleep apnoea? Then your risk is even higher. That combination, known as COMISA, was associated with a 47% higher chance of death over 15 years of follow-up compared with people who had neither condition. Notably, sleep apnoea or insomnia alone did not produce a significantly increased mortality in that same study. It is precisely the combination that appears to be dangerous⁶.

The good news is that treatment works. A CPAP device, a mask that keeps your airways open during the night, lowers blood pressure, reduces cardiac arrhythmias and decreases daytime sleepiness. This effect occurs when the device is used for at least four hours per night on more than 70% of nights⁴. If you suspect breathing interruptions, have them investigated; early treatment produces real health gains^1,7.