Sleep Apnea Linked to 21% Higher Hospitalization Risk

Sleep Apnea increases Hospitalization Risk
Sleep Apnea increases Hospitalization Risk. Credit | Getty images

United States: A new study reveals that those with sleep apnea have an increased risk of needing hospitalization for a medical condition. This condition is found very common among older adults nowadays and health experts are working on it to improve for the healthcare individuals.

Research Findings

Research shows that individuals 50 years of age and older who have sleep apnea are 21 percent more likely to be admitted to the hospital than people who do not have the respiratory condition.

Lead Researcher’s Insights

Associate professor of health issues and biomedical informatics at the University of Florida College of Medicine Christopher Kaufmann, the supereminent experimenter, stated that” the findings hold true indeed after taking into account other factors that may contribute to an increased threat of health service application” similar as depression, redundant weight, and ill health.

Understanding Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway defeats during the sleep and cutting off breathing and causing a person to fitfully wake up throughout the night.

Study Methodology

The Health and Retirement Study is an ongoing initiative that tracks health issues associated with aging. For this study, data from almost 20,000 participants in the study were analyzed.

In 2016, participants’ experiences with sleep problems, such as sleep apnea, were surveyed. One in twelve respondents claimed to have a sleep apnea diagnosis.

Importance of Treatment

The participants were questioned about hospital stays and utilization of medical services two years later.

The findings, which were presented on Monday at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies in Houston and just published in the journal Sleep, demonstrate that treating sleep apnea can keep older persons out of the hospital said ,Kaufmann  and such research is considered as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Caution on Research Status

According to a meeting news release from Kaufmann, “treating sleep apnea can not only improve individual health outcomes but also alleviate the strain on health care resources, leading to more efficient and effective health care delivery.”