According to research presented at IDWeek 2020, there has been an increase in obstructive sleep apnea cases in individuals living with HIV. While the connection is found across all age ranges, those impacted are usually above 50 years old and suffer from additional comorbidities like obesity, restless leg syndrome, lipodystrophy, and peptic ulcer disease.
Researchers conducted a large-scale analysis across the United States by pulling insights from the National Inpatient Sample database to examine this association. Investigators were looking for the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea and related risk factors from inpatient admission over nearly a decade from 2007 to 2016.
From the database,1,361,514 patients were identified with HIV as the research group — and of those 1,361,514 patients, 21,413 (1.6%) were found to have obstructive sleep apnea. Of those diagnosed with OSA, the majority were women. Women also noted an earlier onset of obstructive sleep apnea over men.
Along with gender, there were other characteristics of the group that made them more prone to OSA. For example, obstructive sleep apnea was more commonly diagnosed in western and midwestern areas of the United States. African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asian/Pacific Islanders are also less likely to be diagnosed with OSA than Whites. I
Individuals with comorbidities were also more commonly diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. These comorbidities range from obesity, hypertension, and diabetes to arthritis, depression, and heart failure.
Because this research only examined data from individuals with HIV admitted to the hospital between 2007 and 2016, researchers believe that the number of incidences is likely underestimated. The study concludes that individuals should receive proactive testing for obstructive sleep apnea, especially if they have any comorbidities or fall into any of the demographics mentioned above.
Get Tested for Sleep Apnea with ApneaMed
Even though a bad night's sleep may not seem like a big deal, it might indicate a more significant problem if it happens night after night. Your age and your health may put you at risk for obstructive sleep apnea, which can be highly damaging to your health if left untreated.
To determine if you’re a candidate for CPAP therapy, you can test for sleep apnea with ApneaMed’s home sleep study. Our home sleep test can be self-administered, so you never even have to step foot outside your front door — making it both a convenient and affordable option!
The sleep apnea test is delivered directly to your home with instructions on administering it yourself throughout the night. The device is attached to you while you sleep to monitor and record your blood oxygen levels, blood oxygen saturation, breathing, and heart rates. Once the data is collected, it’s sent to one of ApneaMed’s board-certified sleep physicians to review.
To treat your obstructive sleep apnea, your sleep specialist will likely recommend the most common form of sleep apnea treatment, AutoPAP therapy. An AutoPAP machine offers both a continuous mode (otherwise known as CPAP) and an auto-adjusting mode, allowing you to determine which feels best for you.
The auto-adjusting mode ensures you receive the ideal air pressure throughout the entire night, no matter the sleep stage or position you’re sleeping in. Following the recommended treatment plan will allow you to get a comfortable night’s sleep and improve your overall health.
ApneaMed offers various home sleep tests and in-home breathing equipment to help you treat your obstructive sleep apnea quickly and effectively. Contact our team to learn more or discuss how we can be of assistance.