A recently published study from the Chi Mei Medical Center in Tainan, Taiwan finds that low-quality sleep, like that experienced by people with sleep apnea, may lead to poor bone health. It is yet more research that shows sleep disorders could cause a large number of seemingly unrelated health problems, including bone issues like osteoporosis.
Co-author Dr. Kai-Jen Tien explains this possible link between sleep apnea and osteoporosis:
When sleep apnea periodically deprives the body of oxygen, it can weaken bones and raise the risk of osteoporosis," Tien said. "The progressive condition can lead to bone fractures, increased medical costs, reduced quality of life and even death.
The sleep apnea study, which does not imply a direct correlation between sleep apnea and osteoporosis, but only links the two illnesses, was published April 15 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Medical records of roughly 1,400 people with diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea between 2000 and 2008, were reviewed. The records were then compared with those of nearly 21,000 patients that did not have sleep apnea.
The study found that over a six-year time period, participants suffering from untreated sleep apnea were 2.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with osteoporosis. Women and the elderly were especially likely to be affected by poor bone health.
The study's authors suggest more research to better understand the link between sleep apnea and osteoporosis.
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