The risk of severe COVID-19 is greater in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea and other breathing problems that are known to result in fall in oxygen levels during sleep, noted researchers. 

In a study published in JAMA Network Open, investigators tracked 5,402 adult patients with these problems and noted that around one-third of them tested positive for COVID-19. Although the likelihood of being infected did not increase with the severity of their problems, but those who had higher scores on the apnea-hypopnia index appeared to have higher odds of requiring hospitalization or dying from COVID-19, noted researchers.

It is not known whether treatments that improve sleep apnea, such as CPAP machines, would reduce the risk of severe COVID-19, stated Cinthya Pena Orbea and Reena Mehra of the Cleveland Clinic… (Reuters, November 10, 2021)