Rising prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea during night-time heatwaves across Europe

To the Editor:

Recent data indicate that chronic exposure to elevated ambient temperatures is associated with increased severity of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). As global temperatures continue to rise, warming-driven increases in OSA prevalence are projected to further exacerbate the burden of disease, with significant personal, societal, and economic consequences [1]. Alongside rising temperatures, climate change is critically increasing the frequency, intensity and duration of extreme weather events (e.g. heatwaves), with Europe being one of the most vulnerable regions [2]. However, the effects of acute extreme heat exposure on OSA severity remains largely unexplored. In this large-scale, real-world, multinational study, we demonstrate an increase in OSA prevalence of 1.12% (95% CI 1.05–1.19%) for every 1 °C rise in night-time temperature during European summer heatwaves.