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Obstructive sleep apnea and mood disorders show a high prevalence of comorbidity, with age and body mass index as significant moderators

This meta-analysis of 23 studies found a significant prevalence of comorbidity between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and mood disorders (major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder), with 446,495 comorbid mood disorders among 2,380,986 OSA patients. Mean age (β=0.18) and mean body mass index (β=-0.18) were identified as significant moderators of OSA prevalence.

1 min read•Updated Jul 30, 2026•0 RCTs•1 Meta-analyses•View structured evidence →
Evidence Score49/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis★★★☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

This article is automatically generated from the structured evidence profile behind the claim above. Scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical advice.

Obstructive sleep apnea and mood disorders show a high prevalence of comorbidity, with age and body mass index as significant moderators The current body of evidence comprises 1 study and 1 meta-analysis. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 49/100 (low).

The Claim

Obstructive sleep apnea and mood disorders show a high prevalence of comorbidity, with age and body mass index as significant moderators

This conclusion is most relevant to: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea and/or mood disorders (MDD or BD) from 23 studies totaling 2,380,986 OSA patients and 5,724 mood disorder patients.

What the Research Shows

The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:

  • ▸Mood Disorders and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. (Journal of clinical medicine, 2026) —

How It Works

The proposed biological pathway:

  • ▸Mood disorders and OSA share similar risk factors
  • ▸Each condition can worsen symptoms of the other
  • ▸Comorbidity affects treatment response
  • ▸Result: High prevalence of co-occurrence with significant heterogeneity

Who Might Benefit

Evidence fit by population:

  • ▸Patients with obstructive sleep apnea and/or mood disorders (MDD or BD) from 23 studies totaling 2,380,986 OSA patients and 5,724 mood disorder patients

Limitations & Caveats

Important context when interpreting this evidence:

  • ▸Substantial heterogeneity across studies was observed
  • ▸Only 23 studies met eligibility criteria, limiting generalizability
  • ▸Meta-regression identified only age and BMI as moderators, leaving other potential factors unexplored

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the prevalence of mood disorders in OSA patients?▼

Among 2,380,986 OSA patients, 446,495 had comorbid mood disorders (446,290 with MDD and 205 with BD).

Does age affect the comorbidity between OSA and mood disorders?▼

Yes, mean age was a significant positive moderator (β=0.18, p=0.02), indicating that older age is associated with higher OSA prevalence in mood disorder patients.

How does BMI influence OSA prevalence in mood disorder patients?▼

Mean BMI was a significant negative moderator (β=-0.18, p=0.01), suggesting that lower BMI is associated with higher OSA prevalence in this population.

What study types were included in this meta-analysis?▼

The meta-analysis included 23 observational studies from a systematic review of EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, Global Health, and APA PsycINFO databases.

References

  1. 1.Yeşiloğlu B, Yeşilkaya ÜH, Bengi D, Şen M, Meriç Özgündüz C, Aksoy B, Ceylan D, Peker Y. “Mood Disorders and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis..” Journal of clinical medicine, 2026. PMID: 42513392 DOI: 10.3390/jcm15145478
Disclaimer: This article is auto-generated from structured research data for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.