A study in Sweden shows that snorers have a higher risk of developing cancer than normal.
This increased risk is not solely attributed to the likelihood of obesity, smoking, or other health conditions among snorers. Swedish experts believe it is related to nighttime oxygen deprivation due to interrupted breathing, commonly known as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Additionally, several other separate studies have linked sleep apnea to cognitive decline and an increased risk of blood clots. Notably, millions of people in the UK and the US are affected by this condition.
Patients with sleep apnea have a higher risk of cancer. (Illustrative image: Shutterstock).
Typically, the characteristic sign of sleep apnea is snoring, but this annoying noise is not always caused by the condition itself.
The study was recently presented at a medical conference in Barcelona. It monitored nearly 4,200 patients diagnosed with sleep apnea, half of whom had also been diagnosed with cancer in the past five years.
The research team, led by Dr. Andreas Palm from Uppsala University, assessed the severity of the patients through two tests.
- The first measured the number of breathing disturbances during sleep and scored them using the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI).
- The second measured the number of times blood oxygen levels dropped by 3% for at least 10 seconds each hour, known as the Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI).
The results indicated that cancer patients often experience more sleep interruptions.
They had an average AHI score of 32, compared to 30 in the non-cancer group. Their ODI was also higher at 28 compared to 26 in the non-cancer group.
Meanwhile, the ODI was even higher in patients with lung cancer (38 vs. 27), prostate cancer (28 vs. 24), and skin cancer (32 vs. 25).
Dr. Palm explained that studies have shown that patients with sleep apnea have a higher risk of cancer. However, he remains uncertain whether this is directly caused by sleep apnea itself or due to cancer-related risk factors such as obesity, metabolic heart disease, and lifestyle habits.
“Our findings suggest that oxygen deprivation due to OSA is independently associated with cancer,” Dr. Palm stated. However, the study is observational and cannot prove that sleep apnea causes cancer.
Obstructive sleep apnea affects the health of approximately 1.5 million people in the UK and 22 million people in the US. This condition occurs when a person’s throat relaxes and narrows during sleep, blocking their airway. This can lead to loud snoring, heavy breathing, and difficulty breathing.
Obstructive sleep apnea can be caused by obesity, as increased fat mass around the neck narrows the airway and weakens the muscles in that area.
Sleep apnea also contributes to cognitive decline in older adults. Researchers at the University Hospital of Lausanne in Switzerland found that individuals aged 74 and older, particularly men, showed a more significant decline in certain cognitive tests.
Meanwhile, another study at the University Hospital of Angers in France indicated that this condition may increase the risk of blood clots forming in the veins.
