Obstructive sleep apnea and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Sleep Medicine
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder.
• Depression is a common and serious mood disorder.
• The relationship between OSA and depression requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and depression.
• To compare depression prevalence in individuals with and without OSA.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched Embase, Ovid MEDLINE(R), and PsychINFO databases for studies published between January 2010 and October 2019.
• Included cross-sectional, case-control, and longitudinal study designs.

Main Results:

• Meta-analysis of longitudinal studies (5 studies) indicated a higher risk of developing depression in individuals with OSA (RR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.47, 2.88).
• Cross-sectional studies (6 studies) found no significant association between OSA and depression (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.78, 1.47).
• High heterogeneity was observed in the longitudinal study meta-analysis (I² = 72.8%).

Conclusions:

• Findings support the hypothesis that OSA may elevate the risk of depression.
• Uncertainty remains regarding the validity and generalizability due to sample characteristics and methodological issues.