Most unaware of sleep disorder risk

Experts are calling for more awareness about sleep apnoea, a dangerous disorder that affects thousands of people in Ireland.

People with sleep apnoea frequently stop breathing during their sleep. Breathing can stop repeatedly for ten seconds and longer in extreme cases.

Symptoms of sleep apnoea include: feeling tired or drowsy during the daytime; poor night-time sleep; recurrent awakenings during sleep; and reports of loud snoring from your partner.

There are currently over 7,000 people diagnosed in Ireland with sleep apnoea, but the Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust actually estimate that more than 105,000 people suffer from the condition, ranging from mild to severe.

In a new study, researchers from the US monitored the sleep patterns of more than 6,400 men and women aged 40-70 years. About half of all the participants had moderate to severe sleep apnoea.

During the eight-year study, the researchers found that as little as 11 minutes of sleep apnoea – during which blood oxygen levels dropped to below 90% of normal – doubled the risk of death in men.

Even moderate forms of the sleeping disorder, with anywhere from 15 to 30 episodes of interrupted breathing during each hour of sleep, increased the risk of death by 17%, the study found.

“Our results really raise concern about the potentially harmful effects of sleep apnoea,” the researchers said. 

The researchers added that screening for sleep apnoea as part of routine healthcare.

The study was published in the US Public Library of Science online journal Medicine.

There are a number of overnight sleeping aids, such as the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) device, that can help to treat sleep apnoea. For more information speak to your GP.

[Posted: Tue 01/09/2009]