News • Co-morbidity research
Sleep disorder combo greatly raises hypertension risk
The likelihood of high blood pressure is clearly higher among people who have both sleep apnea and insomnia. This is shown by a study from the University of Gothenburg.
Image source: Göteborgs universitet
The results are published in the journal Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
High blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for heart attack and stroke. Elevated blood pressure can have many underlying causes, such as obesity, stress, or kidney disease. Sleep apnea is already known as a contributing factor – but for the first time, this study shows that the combination of sleep apnea and insomnia represents the strongest risk factor for uncontrolled hypertension.
Sleep apnea involves repeated pauses in breathing during the night, leading to oxygen deficiency and disturbed sleep. Insomnia refers to long-term sleep difficulties – such as trouble falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, or waking too early in the morning.
The study included nearly 4,000 randomly selected middle-aged adults from the general population. Participants underwent extensive health examinations, including blood pressure measurements and an overnight home sleep study. They were divided into four groups: those without sleep problems (2,616 people), those with insomnia (404), those with sleep apnea (694), and those with both problems (118). Blood pressure readings above 140/90 mmHg were considered high.
The results showed that 4.5% of people with insomnia alone had high blood pressure, compared with 7.9% of those with sleep apnea alone and 10.2% of those with both conditions.
Image source: Göteborgs universitet; photo: Emelie Asplund
Mio Kobayashi Frisk, physician at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and doctoral student at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, is lead author of the study: “We see that it is specifically the combination of sleep apnea and insomnia that is most clearly linked to high blood pressure,” she says. “This is important knowledge for identifying patients who are at the greatest risk and need closer monitoring in healthcare.”
Ding Zou, researcher at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, is senior author of the study. He adds: “Good sleep is now part of the international recommendations for protecting heart health. For patients with both sleep apnea and insomnia, treatment with a breathing mask may not always be enough – support with sleep habits or cognitive behavioral therapy can also be important to reduce the risk of high blood pressure.”
The study is part of SCAPIS, a large population study funded by the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation.
Source: University of Gothenburg
19.11.2025
