# Prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnoea in people with sarcoidosis: a narrative review

## TL;DR

People with sarcoidosis have a high risk of obstructive sleep apnoea, with age and BMI being key factors.

## Contribution

This review synthesizes current evidence on the high prevalence and risk factors of OSA in sarcoidosis patients.

## Key findings

- OSA prevalence in sarcoidosis patients ranges from 44% to 88%.
- Age and BMI are consistently linked to increased OSA risk in sarcoidosis patients.

## Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests a link between sarcoidosis and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Previous studies have reported a high prevalence of OSA in people with sarcoidosis; however, much of this evidence has been derived from retrospective analyses. Recently, prospective cohort studies have provided further insight into potential interactions between sarcoidosis and OSA. This narrative review aims to synthesise current evidence on the prevalence of OSA in people with sarcoidosis and identify associated risk factors.

We conducted a search of Pubmed, Medline, the Cochrane Library and the Register of Controlled Trials and identified eight studies that evaluated the prevalence of OSA in people with sarcoidosis.

The prevalence of OSA in sarcoidosis patients ranged from 44% to 88%. Mild OSA was generally more common than moderate to severe OSA, with prevalence rates of 24% to 52% for mild cases and 5% to 51% for moderate to severe cases. Advancing age and elevated body mass index (BMI) were consistently associated with increased OSA risk. Corticosteroid therapy and sex showed mixed associations, while parenchymal lung involvement was not linked to increased OSA risk in any study.

The prevalence of OSA in people with sarcoidosis is high. Conventional risk factors for OSA, including age and BMI, also apply in this group. Further prospective studies with larger, well-defined cohorts are warranted to clarify these associations and explore the potential bidirectional relationship between sarcoidosis and OSA. Studies should expand our knowledge on symptoms and hypoxic burden of subjects with sarcoidosis and OSA.