Climate change may significantly increase global sleep apnea, study suggests
Climate change may significantly increase global sleep apnea, study suggests
A new study presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2025 International Conference suggests that rising global temperatures could nearly double the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) worldwide. The research, led by Bastien Lechat, PhD, of Flinders University, analyzed data from 116,200 adults across 41 countries who used an FDA-approved under-mattress sensor to monitor OSA severity, comparing it with ambient temperature data.
The study found a notable association between higher temperatures and increased OSA risk. Temperatures in the 99th percentile, compared to the 25th percentile, were linked to a 70% increased risk of OSA. This association was significant in 29 countries, with stronger links observed in European nations.
The researchers estimated that in 2023, temperature-related increases in OSA accounted for nearly 800,000 lost healthy life years and $32 billion in lost workplace productivity. Projecting forward, the study indicates that temperature increases of at least 1.8°C above pre-industrial levels could lead to a 1.5 to 3-fold rise in the global burden of OSA by 2100.
This highlights the urgent need for global warming mitigation efforts aligned with the Paris Agreement and for improved diagnosis and treatment of OSA, much of which remains undiagnosed. While the cross-sectional design and limited data from lower-income countries were noted limitations, the findings underscore the substantial health and economic implications of climate change on sleep health.
