A sleep problem linked to 71% higher death risk
New coverage of European Congress on Obesity findings reports that a common sleep disorder was associated with a 71% increase in mortality risk in the analyzed data set, highlighting a strong link between sleep health and long‑term outcomes. (knowridge.com)
Obstructive sleep apnea — a disorder that repeatedly blocks breathing during sleep — was linked to a 71% higher risk of cardiovascular events or death in a new European Congress on Obesity analysis. (news-medical.net) Sleep apnea happens when breathing stops and restarts during sleep, often with loud snoring, gasping, or choking sounds. United States National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidance says untreated sleep apnea raises the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other serious problems. (nhlbi.nih.gov 1) (nhlbi.nih.gov 2) The new findings are scheduled for presentation at the 33rd European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey, from May 12 to May 15, 2026. The study was carried out by researchers from Imperial College Health Partners, Imperial College Healthcare National Health Service Trust, and Eli Lilly and Company. (eco2026.org) (news-medical.net) Researchers used de-identified linked electronic health records covering 2.9 million residents in North-West London. They matched 20,300 adults diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea to 97,412 comparable adults without the diagnosis and followed them for as long as four years, through March 2025. (news-medical.net) In that analysis, people with obstructive sleep apnea had higher odds of the combined endpoint: a cardiovascular event or death from any cause. Among the patients with sleep apnea, 57.2% were living with obesity, compared with 56.7% of the matched comparison group. (news-medical.net) The sleep disorder is common in people with excess weight. The researchers said prior studies have found obesity or overweight in 40% to 70% of people with obstructive sleep apnea, and weight loss can reduce the disorder’s severity. (news-medical.net) Heart and public health groups already treat sleep as a cardiovascular issue, not just a fatigue problem. The American Heart Association says obstructive sleep apnea has been linked to higher rates of high blood pressure, stroke, and coronary artery disease, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says sleep health affects public health and safety. (heart.org) (cdc.gov) Doctors have long warned that the disorder is easy to miss because many symptoms happen at night. The National Health Service lists breathing that stops and starts, gasping, snorting, choking, and waking up repeatedly as common signs, while daytime symptoms can include excessive sleepiness and trouble concentrating. (nhs.uk) (mayoclinic.org) The new analysis has not yet appeared as a full peer-reviewed journal paper in the material reviewed here, and it was sponsored by Lilly, which makes obesity and diabetes drugs including tirzepatide. Those details do not negate the findings, but they do set the terms for how the data will be judged when the full presentation lands in Istanbul next month. (news-medical.net)
