Keyword: Sleep apnea

Sleep apnoea causes interruptions in breathing during the night. This increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, as the heart cannot withstand the strain of sleep apnoea. Turku is one of the leading centres of sleep apnoea research in the world.

The question of sleep apnea as the risk factor for COVID-19 arose in a study conducted by the Turku University Hospital and the University of Turku on patients of the first wave of the pandemic. This is the first COVID-19-related study where sleep apnea as suspected risk factor emerges as the main finding.