Article,
Association Between Severity of COVID-19 Respiratory Disease and Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Contributors
Lechien J.R.
0000-0002-0845-0845
[3]
Ravaglia C.
0000-0002-2975-7299
[1]
Poletti V.
0000-0002-8634-2284
[1]
[4]
De Vito A.
0000-0002-9802-7716
[7]
Magliulo G.
0000-0003-3052-1969
[8]
Maniaci A.
0000-0002-1251-0185
(Corresponding author)
[10]
Di Giacinto I.
0000-0002-5022-7890
[12]
Corso R.M.
0000-0001-5446-6314
[1]
Affiliations
- [1] Department of Diseases of the Thorax [NORA names: Italy; Europe, EU; OECD];
- [2] University of Ferrara [NORA names: Italy; Europe, EU; OECD];
- [3] Faculté des Sciences [NORA names: Belgium; Europe, EU; OECD];
- [4] Aarhus University Hospital [NORA names: Central Denmark Region; Hospital; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
- [5] Division of Endocrinology [NORA names: Italy; Europe, EU; OECD];
(... more)
Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this observational retrospective study was to evaluate, in patients with a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, the association between the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) respiratory illness and the risk of infected patients to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: Ninety-six patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection were enrolled in the study. The STOP-BANG questionnaire to investigate the risk of the OSA syndrome was filled in by the patients at admission. The enrolled patients were divided into 2 groups according to the respiratory disease: group 1 (72 patients), hospitalized patients undergoing conventional oxygen therapy; group 2 (24 patients), patients requiring enhanced respiratory support. STOP-BANG results of these 2 groups were compared to observe whether patients with high OSA risk more frequently presented a severe form of COVID-19. Results: 41.6% of the patients in group 2 had a STOP-BANG score between 5 and 8 (high risk of having apnea); in contrast, 20.8% of the patients in group 1 had a STOP-BANG score between 5 and 8, with a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P =.05). A complementary trend was observed regarding the proportion of patients in the range 0 to 2, which classifies patients at a low risk of OSA (48.6% vs 20.8% for groups 1 and 2, P =.01). Conclusions: According to our data, the chances of having a severe case of COVID-19 should be considered in patients at high risk of OSA. Current Knowledge/Study Rationale: Emerging research suggests that OSA could represent a potentially important risk factor for the severe forms of COVID-19. The purpose of this observational retrospective study was to evaluate the potential association between OSA and the severity of COVID-19 disease. Study Impact: According to our data, the likelihood of contracting a severe form of COVID-19 disease should be considered in patients at high risk of OSA.
