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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Cancer patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) face a 27% higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, with heart failure being the biggest concern. Women with cancer and OSA are hit hardest, facing nearly double the heart failure risk. Researchers say routine OSA screening at cancer diagnosis could be a meaningful step toward reducing cardiovascular complications.
A large retrospective study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that cancer patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) face significantly elevated cardiovascular risks — and women bear a disproportionate burden. Analyzing data from nearly 4.8 million cancer patients, researchers found that those with OSA had a 27% higher risk of a composite cardiovascular outcome compared to those without OSA.
Heart failure emerged as the most prominent risk, with OSA-positive cancer patients 80% more likely to develop it. Women with cancer and OSA faced an even steeper climb — nearly double the heart failure risk compared to women without OSA. Notably, despite higher cardiovascular risk, all-cause mortality was actually lower among OSA patients, though the reasons behind this finding remain unclear given the study's limitations.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Cancer care teams rarely screen for OSA, but this study suggests it could be a critical — and modifiable — cardiovascular risk factor. Integrating OSA screening at cancer diagnosis may open a new avenue for protecting patients' heart health.
