Daijiworld Media Network - Guangdong

Guangdong, Dec 28: Older adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may face a higher risk of nontraumatic fractures, a new community-based study suggests. The research also found that poor sleep quality could further increase fracture risk among seniors.

The study, conducted between 2021 and 2023 in Guangdong Province, China, included 5,519 adults with an average age of 52.7 years. OSA was identified using wearable sleep monitors, while fracture history was self-reported based on physician diagnoses. Poor sleep quality was defined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Results revealed that while OSA was not associated with fractures in adults aged 18–47, the relationship became evident in those aged 48–58 and was most pronounced among adults aged 59–91. In the oldest group, OSA was linked to a 3.68-fold higher likelihood of previous nontraumatic fractures.

Moreover, participants aged 59–91 with both OSA and poor sleep quality had a 1.64 times higher odds of traumatic fractures compared to those with OSA alone. Researchers noted that age and alcohol consumption also influenced the association between OSA and fracture history.

The findings suggest that obstructive sleep apnea could serve as a marker for fracture vulnerability in older adults, with sleep quality and lifestyle factors further shaping risk.