Insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea together are more likely to cause serious heart problems and people with these are about 50 percent more likely to die than those without either condition, according to a study by Flinders University.
In a new study published in the European Respiratory Journal, Flinders researchers have observed a large US-based dataset of over 5000 people to understand the risks of Co-morbid insomnia and sleep apnea (COMISA). The participants, aged around 60 years of age at the beginning of the study with 52 percent females, were followed for approximately 15 years, with 1210 people dying during that time.
The results showed that participants with COMISA were two times more likely to have high blood pressure and 70 percent more likely to have cardiovascular disease than participants with neither insomnia nor sleep apnoea.
It also clarified that the participants with COMISA had a 47 percent increased risk of dying (of any reason) compared to participants with no insomnia or sleep apnoea, even when other factors known to increase mortality were taken into account.
Dr Bastein Lechat Head of Sleep Health Research Flinders University
“This is the first study to assess mortality risk in participants with co-morbid insomnia and sleep apnoea. Given that these people are at higher risk of experiencing adverse health outcomes, it is important that people undergoing screening for one disorder should also be screened for the other. Specific treatments may be needed for people with co-occurring disorders so it’s important we examine the efficacy of insomnia and sleep apnoea treatments in this specific population.”
While more research is needed to determine what is driving the increased mortality risk in those with COMISA, researchers believe that more work is also needed to ensure that treatments are effective.
