Study links sleep apnea to higher spine fracture risk among women

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may negatively affect bone health, according to a new study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

Results from the study indicate that women with a history of OSA may face a higher risk of spine, or vertebral, fractures.

Using information from the Nurses' Health Study, investigators examined data pertaining to 55,264 women without a prior history of bone fractures.

OSA was self-reported in 1.3 per cent of participants in 2002 and increased to 3.3 per cent by 2012.

Between 2002 and 2014, 461 vertebral fractures and 921 hip fractures occurred.

Women with a history of OSA had a 2-fold higher risk of vertebral fracture relative to those with no OSA history, with the strongest association observed for OSA associated with daytime sleepiness.

No association was observed between OSA history and risk of hip fracture.