The association between high risk of sleep apnea, comorbidities, and risk of COVID-19: a population-based international harmonized study

• Published in: Sleep & breathing Vol. 25; no. 2; pp. 849 - 860
• Main Authors: Chung, Frances, Waseem, Rida, Pham, Chi, Penzel, Thomas, Han, Fang, Bjorvatn, Bjørn, Morin, Charles M., Holzinger, Brigitte, Espie, Colin A., Benedict, Christian, Cedernaes, Jonathan, Saaresranta, Tarja, Wing, Yun Kwok, Nadorff, Michael R., Dauvilliers, Yves, De Gennaro, Luigi, Plazzi, Guiseppe, Merikanto, Ilona, Matsui, Kentaro, Leger, Damien, Sieminski, Mariusz, Mota-Rolim, Sergio, Inoue, Yuichi, Partinen, Markku
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.06.2021; Springer Nature B.V; Springer Verlag
• Subjects: Adult; Apnea; Comorbidity; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentistry; Depression; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Health Status; Hospitalization; Human health and pathology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Life Sciences; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neurology; Obstructive sleep apnea; Otorhinolaryngology; Pediatrics; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Population studies; Population-based studies; Prevalence; Pulmonology and respiratory tract; Questionnaires; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Sleep; Sleep apnea; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Sleep Breathing Physiology and Disorders • Original; Sleep Breathing Physiology and Disorders • Original Article; Sleep disorders; Snoring; STOP questionnaire; COVID-19; Depression; Diabetes; Obstructive sleep apnea; STOP questionnaire
• ISSN: 1520-9512; 1522-1709; 1522-1709
• DOI: 10.1007/s11325-021-02373-5

Purpose Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may increase the risk of severe COVID-19; however, the level of potential modulation has not yet been established. The objective of the study was to determine the association between high risk of OSA, comorbidities, and increased risk for COVID-19, hospitalization, and intensive care unit (ICU) treatment. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional population-based web survey in adults in 14 countries/regions. The survey included sociodemographic variables and comorbidities. Participants were asked questions about COVID-19, hospitalization, and ICU treatment. Standardized questionnaire (STOP questionnaire for high risk of OSA) was included. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted adjusting for various factors. Results Out of 26,539 respondents, 20,598 (35.4% male) completed the survey. Mean age and BMI of participants were 41.5 ± 16.0 years and 24.0 ± 5.0 kg/m 2 , respectively. The prevalence of physician-diagnosed OSA was 4.1% and high risk of OSA was 9.5%. We found that high risk of OSA (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20, 2.47) and diabetes (aOR 2.07, 95% CI: 1.23, 3.48) were associated with reporting of a COVID-19 diagnosis. High risk for OSA (aOR 2.11, 95% CI: 1.10–4.01), being male (aOR: 2.82, 95% CI: 1.55–5.12), having diabetes (aOR: 3.93, 95% CI: 1.70–9.12), and having depression (aOR: 2.33, 95% CI: 1.15–4.77) were associated with increased risk of hospitalization or ICU treatment. Conclusions Participants at high risk of OSA had increased odds of having COVID-19 and were two times more likely to be hospitalized or treated in ICU.