Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 29: A major international study has revealed a troubling link between air pollution and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), adding a new dimension to the conversation around environmental health. The research, presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, indicates that even small increases in PM10—tiny air particles primarily produced by vehicle emissions and industrial activity—can lead to measurable worsening of OSA symptoms.

Obstructive sleep apnea, a common but often undiagnosed condition, involves disrupted breathing during sleep, often accompanied by loud snoring and frequent awakenings. Researchers analyzed data from 19,325 patients across 25 cities in 14 countries, and consistently found that individuals living in areas with higher long-term exposure to PM10 experienced more frequent respiratory disturbances at night.

The severity of these disturbances was measured using the apnoea hypopnoea index (AHI), which calculates the number of breathing interruptions per hour of sleep. On average, participants with low AHI scores (under five) lived in areas where PM10 levels were around 16 micrograms per cubic meter, while those with higher AHI scores (five or more) lived in places with PM10 levels closer to 19 micrograms per cubic meter.

Martino Pengo, associate professor at the University of Milano-Bicocca and a clinician at Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, explained that while age and weight are established risk factors for OSA, air quality is emerging as a significant environmental contributor. The study found that for every one unit increase in PM10, there was an average rise of 0.41 in AHI, even after adjusting for other known variables.

Researchers also observed that the strength of the link varied by location, suggesting that local environmental conditions and perhaps even city-specific health infrastructure may influence how pollution impacts sleep disorders.

This study underscores the urgent need to incorporate air quality considerations into the clinical management of sleep apnea, especially in urban environments. As pollution continues to be a global concern, its impact appears to extend well beyond the lungs, reaching into the quality of sleep—and, by extension, overall health.