TOPLINE:

The odds of developing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were 57% higher in adults with cognitive impairment and 65% higher in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) than in those with no impairment, a new meta-analysis showed.

METHODOLOGY:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 studies conducted across 12 countries included nearly 741,000 adults with cognitive impairment, MCI, and/or dementia (mean age, 68 years; 48% female).
• The analysis included eight prospective cohort studies, five cross-sectional studies, and two retrospective cohort studies.
• The primary outcome was the prevalence of OSA in patients with cognitive impairment (including MCI and/or dementia) vs adults without cognitive impairment.
• Cognitive impairment was assessed using diagnostic criteria or validated tools such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment or Mini-Mental State Examination; OSA was diagnosed using polysomnography, home sleep apnea testing, or validated screening tools.

TAKEAWAY:

• Individuals with cognitive impairment had significantly higher odds of developing OSA than those without cognitive impairment (odds ratio [OR], 1.57; P < .0001); and the pooled prevalence of OSA among the groups was 50% vs 38%, respectively.
• Participants with MCI also had significantly higher odds of developing OSA than those without MCI (OR, 1.65; P < .0001).
• In two studies, a higher prevalence of OSA was observed in individuals with dementia than in those without dementia (18% vs 14%, P < .05 in one study; 44% vs 30%, P = .02 in the second study).

IN PRACTICE:

“OSA is likely associated with [cognitive impairment], but further research is needed to determine the causal mechanisms and disease progression,” the investigators of the study wrote.

Still, “individuals should be routinely screened for OSA in memory clinics, neurology clinics, and geriatric settings, particularly when early signs of cognitive impairment are present,” they wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Christopher Chu, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It was published online on April 03 in Sleep Medicine Reviews.

LIMITATIONS:

Few studies stratified results by OSA severity, which prevented the assessment of dose-response relationships that might have clarified causality. Pooled prevalence estimates showed moderate-to-high heterogeneity, reflecting differences in diagnostic methods for OSA and cognitive impairment as well as variation in study populations.

DISCLOSURES:

No funding information was provided in the study. Disclosure information for the investigators is available in the original study publication.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.