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Sleep apnoea may be risk factor for pneumonia

People who suffer from sleep apnoea face an increased risk of developing pneumonia, according to a new study.


People who suffer from sleep apnoea face an increased risk of developing pneumonia, according to a new study.

The research, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, analysed data from over 6,800 people with sleep apnoea between 2000 and 2010 and compared them with over 27,000 people without the condition.

The results showed that 638 people (9.3%) in the sleep apnoea group developed pneumonia, compared with 2,119 people (7.7%) in the group without the condition.

The researchers concluded that sleep apnoea was a risk factor for pneumonia and that it was likely that the risk increased with sleep apnoea severity.  They believe that sleep apnoea may involve abnormally elevated carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the blood, which could mean that patients are more susceptible to pneumonia.

Read the original news article

Read the original research paper 

Read the ELF factsheet on pneumonia

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