Clinical Characteristics and Comorbidities of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients: Insights From Sleep Breathing Disorders Cairo University Registry (2022–2024)

Abstract

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by recurrent upper airway obstruction, which leads to oxygen desaturation and fragmented sleep. Despite its significant impact on cardiometabolic health, data on OSA in the Egyptian population remain limited. Sleep Breathing Disorders Cairo University Registry (SBDCUR) aims to investigate the clinical characteristics and comorbidities of Egyptian patients with OSA. Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study enrolled 403 patients between 2022 and 2024, of whom 324 (80.4%) were confirmed to have OSA based on full-night polysomnography. Comprehensive demographic, clinical, and polysomnographic data were collected.Results: The cohort had a mean age of 56.1±13.0 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.3. Cardiometabolic comorbidities were highly prevalent, including systemic hypertension (41%) and diabetes mellitus (32.7%). Binary logistic regression identified diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR]=3.426, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.414–8.301, <i>p</i>=0.006) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score (OR=1.136, 95% CI: 1.065–1.212, <i>p</i>=0.001) as independent predictors of moderate-to-severe OSA. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between ESS and the oxygen desaturation index (r=0.272, <i>p</i>=0.001), while no significant correlation was observed between body mass index and apnea-hypopnea index (r=0.063, <i>p</i>=0.260).Conclusions: The SBDCUR provides critical insights into the clinical and demographic profiles of Egyptian patients with OSA, highlighting a notable female proportion and strong associations with cardiometabolic comorbidities. These findings emphasize the need for early screening and multidisciplinary management of OSA to mitigate its long-term health impacts in the Egyptian population.