Loading...
Global prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adults with obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Pant, Suman Kyrou, Ioannis Lagojda, Lukasz Asad, Ali Dhungana, Ashesh Randeva, Harpal Singh Kurmi, Om Prakash
Pant, Suman
Kyrou, Ioannis
Lagojda, Lukasz
Asad, Ali
Dhungana, Ashesh
Randeva, Harpal Singh
Kurmi, Om Prakash
Editors
Other contributors
Epub Date
Issue Date
2026-05-22
Submitted date
Files
Loading...
Published version
Adobe PDF, 1.93 MB
Alternative
Abstract
Study objectives
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is considered to exhibit increased prevalence among adults with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), but the reported prevalence estimates among such patients vary. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the global prevalence of MetS in adults with confirmed OSA.
Methods
Ovid Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for all primary studies published in English that used standard polysomnography for OSA diagnosis and reported MetS estimates. At least two reviewers independently screened for eligible studies, extracted data, and graded the risk of bias using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-randomised Studies (RoBANS). Three-level random-effects model was applied for the meta-analysis, reporting pooled prevalence estimate with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Pre-specified subgroup analyses and meta-regression were also performed. Heterogeneity was quantified using I2 and chi-square statistics.
Results
A total of 102 studies were eligible for inclusion (34,013 adults with OSA from 28 countries). The combined MetS prevalence was 55.4% (95% CI: 51.0%, 59.8%). Considerable heterogeneity was noted among the included studies (I2 = 97.8%), whilst the risk of bias ranged from low to high. Subgroup analysis examining the effects of geographic region, study design, MetS definition, and apnoea-hypopnea index threshold showed a significant variation in prevalence estimates across most subgroups (p < 0.0001). Meta-regression analysis indicated a positive association between mean body mass index (β = 0.0772, t = 4.56, p < 0.0001) and MetS prevalence.
Conclusions
MetS has a high prevalence among adults with polysomnography-confirmed OSA, underscoring the need for prompt MetS screening in these patients. Future longitudinal and genetic/mechanistic studies should investigate the factors accounting for this association.
PROSPERO registration number
CRD420251073055.
Citation
Pant, S., Kyrou, I., Dallaway, A., Kite, C., Lagojda, L., Asad, A., Dhungana, A., Randeva, H.S., Kurmi, O.P. (2026) Global prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adults with obstructive sleep apnoea: A systematic review and meta-analysis, Sleep, 2026, zsag144, https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsag144
Publisher
Journal
Research Unit
PubMed ID
42171637 (pubmed)
PubMed Central ID
Embedded videos
Additional Links
Type
Journal article
Language
en
Description
© 2026 The Authors. Published by OUP. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence.
The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsag144
Series/Report no.
ISSN
0161-8105
EISSN
1550-9109