Article, Early Access,
Association Between Severity of COVID-19 Respiratory Disease and Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Contributors
Iannella, Giannicola
0000-0003-1781-2809
[1]
Lechien, Jerome R.
0000-0002-0845-0845
[3]
Poletti, Venerino
0000-0002-6886-1072
[4]
[5]
Toraldo, Domenico Maurizio
0000-0003-0023-0212
[6]
Arigliani, Michele
0000-0003-3012-3485
[6]
Cammaroto, Giovanni
0000-0002-1618-0048
[2]
Meccariello, Giuseppe
0000-0001-7753-4615
[2]
De Vito, Andrea
0000-0002-9802-7716
[7]
Magliulo, Giuseppe
0000-0003-3052-1969
[8]
Greco, Antonio
0000-0002-4824-9871
[8]
Ralli, Massimo
0000-0001-8776-0421
[8]
Pace, Annalisa
0000-0001-6744-5280
[8]
Maniaci, Antonino
0000-0002-1251-0185
(Corresponding author)
[10]
Cocuzza, Salvatore
0000-0002-6135-0958
[10]
Di Giacinto, Ida
0000-0002-5022-7890
[12]
Corso, Ruggero Massimo
0000-0001-5446-6314
[13]
Affiliations
- [1] Morgagni Pierantoni Hosp, Otolaryngol Head Neck & Oral Surg Unit, Dept Head Neck Surg, Forli, Italy [NORA names: Italy; Europe, EU; OECD];
- [2] Univ Ferrara, Dept ENT & Audiol, Ferrara, Italy [NORA names: Italy; Europe, EU; OECD];
- [3] Univ Mons UMONS, Fac Med, Lab Anat & Cell Biol, Mons, Belgium [NORA names: Belgium; Europe, EU; OECD];
- [4] GB Morgagni L Pierantoni Hosp, Dept Infect Dis, Forli, Italy [NORA names: Italy; Europe, EU; OECD];
- [5] Aarhus Univ & Hosp, Dept Resp Dis & Allergy, Aarhus, Denmark [NORA names: AU Aarhus University; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
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Abstract
Objectives: The purpose of this observational retrospective study was to evaluate, in patients with a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, the association between the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) respiratory illness and the risk of infected patients to develop obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: Ninety-six patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection were enrolled in the study. The STOP-BANG questionnaire to investigate the risk of the OSA syndrome was filled in by the patients at admission. The enrolled patients were divided into 2 groups according to the respiratory disease: group 1 (72 patients), hospitalized patients undergoing conventional oxygen therapy; group 2 (24 patients), patients requiring enhanced respiratory support. STOP-BANG results of these 2 groups were compared to observe whether patients with high OSA risk more frequently presented a severe form of COVID-19. Results: 41.6% of the patients in group 2 had a STOP-BANG score between 5 and 8 (high risk of having apnea); in contrast, 20.8% of the patients in group 1 had a STOP-BANG score between 5 and 8, with a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (P = .05). A complementary trend was observed regarding the proportion of patients in the range 0 to 2, which classifies patients at a low risk of OSA (48.6% vs 20.8% for groups 1 and 2, P = .01). Conclusions: According to our data, the chances of having a severe case of COVID-19 should be considered in patients at high risk of OSA. Current Knowledge/Study Rationale: Emerging research suggests that OSA could represent a potentially important risk factor for the severe forms of COVID-19. The purpose of this observational retrospective study was to evaluate the potential association between OSA and the severity of COVID-19 disease. Study Impact: According to our data, the likelihood of contracting a severe form of COVID-19 disease should be considered in patients at high risk of OSA.
