Sleeping Less Than 7 Hours Per Night Linked to Higher Risk of Death in People With Sleep Apnea

Updated April 14, 2024

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From cardiovascular disease to motor vehicle crashes, untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has long been linked to a variety of dangerous outcomes. Trusted Source JAMA JAMA, published continuously since 1883, is an international peer-reviewed general medical journal. View Source However, research now shows that the length of time a person with the condition sleeps each night may contribute to their mortality risk, as well. Trusted Source JAMA Network JAMA and the Specialty Journals help readers stay up to date with the latest research, author interviews, apps, and learning courses. View Source

A recent study published in Jama Network Open followed more than 2,500 people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for nearly 12 years. The participants were limited to those with moderate to severe OSA who were not undergoing treatment with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, oral appliance, oxygen therapy, or tracheostomy.

The participants were divided into four groups based on how long they slept per night on average: at least seven hours a night, six to seven hours, five to six hours, and less than five hours. Out of the 688 deaths—of any cause—over the study period, the highest number of deaths (240) came from the group who slept six to seven hours a night, followed by those that slept five to six hours (209).

The fewest deaths (58) were in the group that slept at least seven hours a night. Each group that slept fewer than seven hours per night had an increased mortality risk, independent of the severity of their sleep apnea.

Researchers weren’t quite sure why shorter sleep durations in people with OSA were associated with higher all-cause mortality, but they theorized that it might be due to sleep fragmentation, or regular occurrences of sleep interruptions throughout the night.

Sleep Apnea Signs and Treatment

OSA is the most common sleep-related breathing disorder. People with OSA experience repeated upper airway collapse while they sleep. The condition is most common in middle-aged and older adults, though it can also affect children. Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source Signs of OSA include snoring intermixed with periods of quiet and then a loud noise as breathing starts again, morning headaches, and daytime sleepiness.

However, sleep apnea can’t be diagnosed by just its symptoms. Those who believe they might have the condition should talk to their doctor, who will review overall sleep issues and order a sleep study, if necessary, to provide an official diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan.

The gold standard treatment for OSA is the use of a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine that provides a constant flow of air that keeps the airway open. Oral appliances that keep the airway open during sleep are another less common sleep apnea treatment option for those who do not tolerate PAP therapy. Trusted Source UpToDate More than 2 million healthcare providers around the world choose UpToDate to help make appropriate care decisions and drive better health outcomes. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. View Source

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Written By

Kelsey Casselbury, Contributing Writer

Kelsey Casselbury is a contributing writer with a degree in journalism from Penn State University. Her work has appeared on Livestrong.com and Testing.com, as well as in School Nutrition and National Culinary Review.

Learn more about our Editorial Team

References
4 Sources

US Preventive Services Task Force. (2022). Screening for obstructive sleep apnea in adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA, 328(19), 1945.
https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.20304
Lin, Y., Wu, Y., Lin, Q., Yun Kwok Wing, Xu, L., Ge, J., Wu, Q., Li, Z., Wu, Q., Lin, B., & Wei, S. (2023). Objective Sleep Duration and All-Cause Mortality Among People With Obstructive Sleep Apnea. JAMA Network Open, 6(12), e2346085–e2346085.
https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.46085
Kline, L.R. (2023, Oct 5). Clinical presentation and diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea in adults. In N. Collup. (Ed.). UpToDate., Retrieved April 11, 2024, from
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-presentation-and-diagnosis-of-obstructive-sleep-apnea-in-adults?topicRef=7695&source=see_link
Malhotra, A. (2024, Mar 26) Obstructive sleep apnea: Overview of management in adults. In N. Collup. (Ed.). UpToDate., Retrieved April 11, 2024, from
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/obstructive-sleep-apnea-overview-of-management-in-adults?topicRef=7706&source=see_link