Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) increases cardiovascular risk by 71 per cent

Exam-focused facts from the 4 April 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Individuals with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) face a 71 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) or death from any cause compared to those without the condition.
The research will be presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO 2026) in Istanbul, Turkey, scheduled for May 12-15.
The study is a collaboration between Imperial College Health Partners (ICHP), Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, and Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly).
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is characterised by recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep, leading to reduced sleep quality and increased cardiovascular risk.
The prevalence of obesity among people with OSA is between 40 per cent and 70 per cent, with obesity linked to more severe symptoms.
The study analysed electronic health records from 2.9 million residents, matching 20,300 people diagnosed with OSA with 97,412 comparators.
The research is identified as the largest matched case-control study of OSA conducted outside the United States (US) to date.