Climate Change Linked to 45% Increase in Sleep Apnea Risk

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, affects over 25 million adults in the U.S. This condition occurs when the throat muscles relax and block the airway, leading to pauses in breathing. The Mayo Clinic highlights that snoring is often a sign of OSA, which can have serious health implications if left untreated.

A recent study published in Nature Communications has revealed a concerning link between climate change and the prevalence of OSA. The research found that warmer temperatures increase the likelihood of experiencing OSA by 45% on any given night. This finding underscores the potential for climate change to exacerbate this sleep disorder, which already poses significant health risks.

The lead author of the study expressed surprise at the magnitude of the association between ambient temperature and OSA severity. This discovery has implications not only for individual health but also for the global economy. OSA is linked to decreased workplace productivity and increased absenteeism, which could result in a $30 billion loss in productivity and an additional $68 billion in worsened well-being as the condition becomes more prevalent with rising temperatures.

The study analyzed sleep data from 116,620 participants across 29 countries over a period of 3.5 years. Using a Food and Drug Administration-cleared OSA monitor, researchers established a clear link between daily ambient temperature and nightly OSA status. The coauthor of the study emphasized the importance of higher rates of diagnosis and treatment to manage and reduce the adverse health and productivity issues caused by climate-related OSA.

As temperatures rise, the health impacts of OSA become more severe. Untreated or severe cases of OSA can increase the risk of various health issues, including dementia, Parkinson’s disease, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression, and even a shortened lifespan. People with OSA often experience frequent fatigue and mood swings due to disrupted sleep, which inhibits the ability to achieve deep, restorative sleep.

Poor sleep quality is also linked to faster brain aging, decreased cognitive functioning, worsened mental health, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, and a suppressed immune system. Higher ambient temperatures further exacerbate these issues by leading to lighter sleep stages and more frequent disruptions and awakenings.

The economic burden of OSA is significant. In 2023, the global warming-related increases in OSA prevalence were associated with a loss of 788,198 healthy life years in 29 countries. The study observed that the increase in OSA led to an additional 25 million absenteeism days across the studied countries, resulting in an economic cost of $30 billion from lost labor. Researchers caution that the study population likely underestimates the potential health and economic burden, as participants owned sleep tracking devices and resided in highly developed countries with greater access to heat-mitigating tools like air conditioning.

With mean global temperatures projected to increase by 2.1°C to 3.4°C, the impacts of heat on OSA are likely to worsen. The study highlights that without greater policy action to slow global warming, the burden of OSA may double by 2100 due to rising temperatures. Future research aims to design intervention studies that explore strategies to reduce the impact of ambient temperatures on OSA severity and investigate the underlying physiological mechanisms that connect temperature fluctuations to OSA severity.