The first long-term study shows that sleep apnoea is a risk factor for developing heart disease.
In sleep apnoea, a person stops breathing during sleep many times in the night, causing a reduction in the amount of oxygen reaching the heart and brain. Snoring is a common symptom. Previous work has suggesting this might increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Researchers in Sweden now report on the first long-term study of sleep apnoea and heart disease. They studied a group of men aged 30 to 69 over a seven year period. Those with sleep apnoea at the start were five times more likely to develop heart disease. They found that 22 out of 60 men with sleep apnoea developed a heart problem, compared to 8 out of 122 who did not have sleep apnoea. But if the condition was treated successfully, the risk decreased dramatically.