# Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder of repeated breathing pauses or shallow breathing events (apneas and hypopneas) during sleep, most commonly obstructive sleep apnea from upper-airway collapse, less often central sleep apnea from disrupted respiratory drive. The AASM diagnoses it at an apnea-hypopnea index of at least 5 per hour with symptoms, or at least 15 without. Untreated, it raises the risk of hypertension, atrial fibrillation, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline, and all-cause mortality.

## Sources

- Yaggi HK, Concato J, Kernan WN et al.. (2005). Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Risk Factor for Stroke and Death. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa043104

---

_Canonical: https://longevity-germany.com/en/glossary/sleep-apnea · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-01-15_