Sleep issue raises death risk
Research scheduled for presentation at ECO 2026 in Istanbul found that a common sleep problem could raise mortality risk by about 71%, according to reporting on the study. (knowridge.com)
Obstructive sleep apnea, a disorder that repeatedly blocks breathing during sleep, was linked to a 71% higher risk of a major heart event or death in research due to be presented in Istanbul in May 2026. (medicalxpress.com) Sleep apnea happens when the upper airway narrows or collapses during sleep, cutting off airflow for seconds at a time and jolting the body awake over and over, according to Mayo Clinic. Common signs include loud snoring, gasping, and daytime sleepiness. (mayoclinic.org) The new analysis is scheduled for the European Congress on Obesity, which runs from May 12 to May 15, 2026, in Istanbul, Türkiye. The study was reported by the European Association for the Study of Obesity and covered adults with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. (eurekalert.org) (eco2026.org) Researchers said people with obstructive sleep apnea had a 71% higher risk of cardiovascular events or all-cause death than people without the condition. They also reported a 45% higher risk of hospitalization for heart failure, stroke, or heart attack. (news-medical.net) The team used linked health records and compared outcomes in people with obesity who had obstructive sleep apnea against matched people who did not, according to the conference report. Imperial College Health Partners, Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service Trust, and Eli Lilly and Company were involved in the work. (eurekalert.org) The findings add to a long-running concern in sleep medicine that untreated breathing interruptions can strain the heart and blood vessels night after night. The Sleep Foundation says observational research has tied untreated obstructive sleep apnea to a higher risk of sudden death, especially in severe cases. (sleepfoundation.org) The study has not yet gone through full journal publication, and conference findings can change after peer review. That means the 71% figure should be treated as a reported association, not proof that sleep apnea directly caused those deaths or heart events. (eurekalert.org) Doctors already screen for obstructive sleep apnea because it is common, underdiagnosed, and treatable with measures such as weight loss, oral devices, and continuous positive airway pressure machines. The Istanbul presentation puts new numbers on the stakes if the condition is missed. (mayoclinic.org)
