Sleep Apnea Tied to Poor Bone Health

Sleep apnea has been found associated with an increased risk of developing osteoporosis, according to a recent study investigating additional heath risks caused by the dangerous sleep condition.

Sleep apnea, a sleep disorder with normally involves heavy snoring and interruptions in breathing during sleep, has long been known to lead to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

However, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, researchers have determine that the obstructive sleep disorder can also weaken bones and rise risk of osteoporosis -- the progressive condition that leads to frequent bone fractures and reduced quality of life.

According to the study, researcher analyzed medical data on 1,377 people in Taiwan who had been diagnosed with sleep apnea prior to the study's start. The medical history of these sleep apnea patients was compared with more than 20,600 people without the condition at the start of the study and again during a follow-up analysis six years later.

Results from the analysis showed that people with sleep apnea were about 2.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with osteoporosis -- even after adjusting for extraneous factors such as location, economic status, and unrelated health conditions. Predictably, older participants with obstructive sleep apnea were found to be at the greatest risk. Women were also found to be at a greater risk of developing the brittle-bone condition compared to men of equal health.

According to study author Kai-Jen Tien, MD, of Chi Mei Medical Center in Tainan, Taiwan, the results of this study show that sleep apnea is potentially more harmful than once known and should be taken extremely seriously by health professionals who currently only focus on the cardiovascular threats of the condition.

"We need to pay more attention to the relationship between sleep apnea and bone health so we can identify strategies to prevent osteoporosis," Tien concluded.

The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, a publication of the Endocrine Society, on April 15.

A press release accompanying the study was published by the Endocrine Society on April 15.