https://doi.org/10.55788/8ebdca81
“Nocturnal intermittent hypoxia in OSA is associated with increased prevalence of cancer,” claimed Dr Andreas Palm (Uppsala University, Sweden) [1]. The current, population-based, prospective, observational DISCOVER study assessed the relation between several OSA measures and cancer prevalence. Information on 62,811 patients who were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was retrieved from various Swedish registries, such as the Swedish Cancer Registry, the Swedish National Patient Registry, and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Registry [2]. In total, 44,197 CPAP-treated participants with OSA did not have a cancer diagnosis within 5 years prior to CPAP, whereas 2,093 participants did have a cancer diagnosis. Propensity score matching was performed, controlling for anthropometric data, comorbidities, and socioeconomic factors.
Participants with cancer had a higher number of breathing events per hour than those without cancer, the apnoea hypopnoea index (AHI) demonstrated (32 vs 30; P=0.002). Also, the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) displayed that those with cancer were slightly more sleepy than those without cancer (10.0 vs 9.6; P=0.020). Next to these findings, it was shown that participants in the highest quartile of the oxygen desaturation index were relatively more likely to have cancer (25.7% vs 20.8%; P<0.001). Interestingly, certain types of cancer were specifically linked to an increased number of events per hour on the oxygen desaturation index compared with those without cancer: lung cancer (38 vs 27 events; P=0.012); prostate cancer (28 vs 24 events; P=0.005); and malignant melanoma (32 vs 25 events; P=0.015).
Overall, Dr Palm concluded that OSA-mediated intermittent hypoxia was independently related with cancer prevalence in the current cohort study. “We aim to investigate the possible influence of OSA treatment on cancer incidence in future, longitudinal studies,” said Dr Palm at the end of his presentation.
- Palm A, et al. Cancer prevalence is increased in obstructive sleep apnea – the population-based DISCOVERY study. Obstructive sleep apnea consequences and management. OA2290, ERS International Congress 2022, Barcelona, Spain, 4–6 September.
- Palm A, et al. BMJ Open. 2020;10(11).
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Table of Contents: ERS 2022
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Letter from the Editor
COVID-19: What Is New?
Does vilobelimab reduce mortality in severe COVID-19?
Awake proning not positive in COVID-19
Favipiravir may help patients over 60 years with COVID-19 to recover
Inhaled agent under investigation for COVID-19
Accurate voice-based COVID-19 diagnostic test in development
Novel scoring tool for post-COVID syndrome aids clinicians and researchers
COPD: Therapies and Innovations
Icenticaftor achieves results on top of triple inhalation therapy in COPD
STARR2: A new approach for treating COPD exacerbations
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Do digital tools improve physical activity in COPD?
Hyperpolarised gas MRI ready for clinical use
All About Asthma
Tezepelumab in asthma: mucus plugging down, lung function up
Digital asthma intervention improves health and reduces costs
Digitally enhanced therapy lowers treatment burden and costs in severe asthma
Mepolizumab beneficial for patients with severe eosinophilic asthma
Progress in Paediatrics
Antibiotics cause increased risk of wheezing in severe RSV bronchiolitis
Inhaled corticosteroids useful in preterms with decreased lung function
Fish oil or vitamin D during pregnancy can prevent croup
Encouraging results of nintedanib in children with fibrosing ILD
Focus on Interventional Pulmonology
Head-to-head: lung volume reduction surgery vs endobronchial valves
Durable effect of endobronchial valves in severe emphysema
Cone beam CT-guided ENB improves detection of pulmonary nodules
Confirmatory mediastinoscopy not needed in resectable NSCLC
Sleep and Breathing Disorders
In the spotlight: Cancer trends in obstructive sleep apnoea
Impact of CPAP on cardiac endpoints in OSA
Sustained hypoxaemia predicts unprovoked VTE in OSA
CPAP therapy in the prevention of cardiovascular risk in patients with OSA
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Excellent results for high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in acute respiratory failure
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