REM - predominant obstructive sleep apnea in adults with a history of COVID-19 infection : A case-control study
(2025) In Sleep Medicine 139.- Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES: An association between COVID-19 and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been reported in literature. We aimed to address the occurrence and phenotypes of OSA in adults with a history of COVID-19 infection and its possible association with long-COVID.
METHODS: In this matched case-control study, 152 individuals with a history of COVID-19 and 152 without were evaluated in a sleep laboratory. Groups were matched for age, sex, and body mass index. OSA was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥15/h. Rapid Eye Movement (REM)-predominant OSA was defined as AHI ≥15/h and REM-AHI/non-REM-AHI ≥2. Fatigue, reported as "frequent/very frequent," was used as a surrogate marker of long-COVID.
RESULTS: The prevalence of... (More)
STUDY OBJECTIVES: An association between COVID-19 and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been reported in literature. We aimed to address the occurrence and phenotypes of OSA in adults with a history of COVID-19 infection and its possible association with long-COVID.
METHODS: In this matched case-control study, 152 individuals with a history of COVID-19 and 152 without were evaluated in a sleep laboratory. Groups were matched for age, sex, and body mass index. OSA was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥15/h. Rapid Eye Movement (REM)-predominant OSA was defined as AHI ≥15/h and REM-AHI/non-REM-AHI ≥2. Fatigue, reported as "frequent/very frequent," was used as a surrogate marker of long-COVID.
RESULTS: The prevalence of OSA was significantly lower in the case group (50.0 %) compared to the control group (77.6 %) (p < 0.001). However, 36 cases (47.4 %) exhibited REM-predominant OSA while 21 controls (17.8 %) demonstrated this phenotype (p < 0.001). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, there was a significant correlation between prior COVID-19 infection and the occurrence of REM-predominant OSA (Odds ratio [OR] 3.14; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.89-5.25; p < 0.001). Fatigue was observed in 52.8 % of patients with REM-predominant OSA and 35.7 % of patients without REM-predominant OSA (p = 0.033). In the entire cohort, the factors determining the fatigue were female sex (OR 2.02; 95 % CI 1.12-3.64, p = 0.019) and REM-predominant OSA (OR 2.18; 95 % CI 1.29-3.69; p = 0.004).
CONCLUSIONS: REM-predominant OSA is highly prevalent among individuals with prior COVID-19 infection and is significantly associated with fatigue, underscoring the need to recognize this phenotype in the evaluation and management of Long-COVID.
(Less)
- author
- Calik, Ipek and Peker, Yüksel LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-12-17
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Sleep Medicine
- volume
- 139
- article number
- 108729
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:41411839
- ISSN
- 1878-5506
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.sleep.2025.108729
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- id
- a0553852-14d7-46bf-ba56-d9630cb060cd
- date added to LUP
- 2025-12-19 08:43:59
- date last changed
- 2025-12-19 08:43:59
@article{a0553852-14d7-46bf-ba56-d9630cb060cd,
abstract = {{<p>STUDY OBJECTIVES: An association between COVID-19 and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been reported in literature. We aimed to address the occurrence and phenotypes of OSA in adults with a history of COVID-19 infection and its possible association with long-COVID.</p><p>METHODS: In this matched case-control study, 152 individuals with a history of COVID-19 and 152 without were evaluated in a sleep laboratory. Groups were matched for age, sex, and body mass index. OSA was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥15/h. Rapid Eye Movement (REM)-predominant OSA was defined as AHI ≥15/h and REM-AHI/non-REM-AHI ≥2. Fatigue, reported as "frequent/very frequent," was used as a surrogate marker of long-COVID.</p><p>RESULTS: The prevalence of OSA was significantly lower in the case group (50.0 %) compared to the control group (77.6 %) (p < 0.001). However, 36 cases (47.4 %) exhibited REM-predominant OSA while 21 controls (17.8 %) demonstrated this phenotype (p < 0.001). In a multiple logistic regression analysis, there was a significant correlation between prior COVID-19 infection and the occurrence of REM-predominant OSA (Odds ratio [OR] 3.14; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.89-5.25; p < 0.001). Fatigue was observed in 52.8 % of patients with REM-predominant OSA and 35.7 % of patients without REM-predominant OSA (p = 0.033). In the entire cohort, the factors determining the fatigue were female sex (OR 2.02; 95 % CI 1.12-3.64, p = 0.019) and REM-predominant OSA (OR 2.18; 95 % CI 1.29-3.69; p = 0.004).</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: REM-predominant OSA is highly prevalent among individuals with prior COVID-19 infection and is significantly associated with fatigue, underscoring the need to recognize this phenotype in the evaluation and management of Long-COVID.</p>}},
author = {{Calik, Ipek and Peker, Yüksel}},
issn = {{1878-5506}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{12}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Sleep Medicine}},
title = {{REM - predominant obstructive sleep apnea in adults with a history of COVID-19 infection : A case-control study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2025.108729}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.sleep.2025.108729}},
volume = {{139}},
year = {{2025}},
}