The Relationship Between Sleep Apnea and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Scoping Review
A Narrative Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33005/jdiversemedres.v3i8.363Keywords:
chronic kidney disease, continuous positive airway pressure, hypoxia, sleep apnea syndromesAbstract
Sleep apnea and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a complex bidirectional effect. Sleep apnea accelerates the decline of kidney function through various mechanisms. CKD can worsen the severity of sleep apnea. This study aims to conduct a scoping review of studies discussing the relationship between sleep apnea and CKD. A scoping review was conducted through a systematic literature search in PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect using keywords related to sleep apnea, CKD, and CPAP therapy. A total of 18 peer-reviewed articles meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed. The prevalence of sleep apnea among CKD patients was found to be high, with a bidirectional relationship worsening both conditions. Sleep apnea was identified as an independent risk factor accelerating the progression of CKD. CPAP therapy demonstrated significant benefits in improving kidney function and reducing biomarkers of kidney injury, especially among patients with good treatment adherence. Variability in diagnostic methods and population characteristics influenced the study results. The relationship between sleep apnea and CKD is multifactorial and requires a multidisciplinary management approach. CPAP therapy has the potential to slow the progression of CKD.
Downloads
References
Chang JL, Goldberg AN, Alt JA, Mohammed A, Ashbrook L, Auckley D, et al. International Consensus Statement on Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2023;13(7):1061–482.
McNicholas WT, Pevernagie D. Obstructive sleep apnea: transition from pathophysiology to an integrative disease model. J Sleep Res. 2022;31(4):1–17.
Francis A, Harhay MN, Ong ACM, Tummalapalli SL, Ortiz A, Fogo AB, et al. Chronic kidney disease and the global public health agenda: an international consensus. Nat Rev Nephrol [Internet]. 2024;20(7):473–85. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41581-024-00820-6
Wang S, Cheng Y, Zhang Z, Liu W, Ou M, Yin T, et al. Association between obstructive sleep apnea and chronic kidney disease: A cross-sectional and Mendelian randomization study. Med (United States). 2025;104(6):e41437.
Lv R, Liu X, Zhang Y, Dong N, Wang X, He Y, et al. Pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Vol. 8, Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy. Springer US; 2023.
Sircu V, Colesnic SI, Covantsev S, Corlateanu O, Sukhotko A, Popovici C, et al. The Burden of Comorbidities in Obstructive Sleep Apnea and the Pathophysiologic Mechanisms and Effects of CPAP. Clocks and Sleep. 2023;5(2):333–49.
Moriya R, Hokari S, Ohshima Y, Suzuki R, Nagai A, Fujito N, et al. Continuous positive airway pressure treatment reduces renal tubular damage in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: A retrospective single-center cohort study. Sleep Med [Internet]. 2023;106:106–15. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2023.03.028
Pisano A, Zoccali C, Bolignano D, D’Arrigo G, Mallamaci F. Sleep apnoea syndrome prevalence in chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Kidney J [Internet]. 2024;17(1):1–12. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/ckj/sfad179
Moradzadeh M, Mirmohammadkhani M, Tamadon MR, Mansori K, Malek F. Prevalence of sleep apnea and its associated factors in chronic kidney disease patients. Tanaffos. 2021;20(2):116–25.
Sanders AP, Saconi B, Politis MD, Manus JN, Kirchner HL. Associations between obstructive sleep apnea and sleep characteristics with chronic kidney disease in rural Pennsylvania. Sleep Med. 2024;124(August):70–6.
Nielsen S, Nyvad J, Grove EL, Poulsen PL, Laugesen E, Christensen KL, et al. Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with cardiac structural and functional alterations in patients with advanced diabetic kidney disease. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2025;226(December 2024).
Loayza-Castro JA, Vásquez-Romero LEM, Zeñas-Trujillo GZ, Vera-Ponce VJ, Torres-Malca JR, Guillén-Ponce NR, et al. Obstructive sleep apnea risk factor for chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Electron J Gen Med. 2023;20(6).
Beaudin AE, Raneri JK, Ahmed S, Hirsch Allen AJ, Nocon A, Gomes T, et al. Association of insomnia and short sleep duration, alone or with comorbid obstructive sleep apnea, and the risk of chronic kidney disease. Sleep. 2022;45(7):1–12.
Azegami T, Kaneko H, Okada A, Suzuki Y, Ko T, Fujiu K, et al. Association of estimated glomerular filtration rate with the incidence of sleep apnea syndrome. Sleep. 2025;48(3):1–7.
Beaudin AE, Raneri JK, Ahmed SB, Hirsch Allen AJM, Nocon A, Gomes T, et al. Risk of chronic kidney disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep. 2022;45(2):1–10.
Zamarrón E, Jaureguizar A, García-Sánchez A, Díaz-Cambriles T, Alonso-Fernández A, Lores V, et al. Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with impaired renal function in patients with diabetic kidney disease. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):1–11.
Yang L, Liu B, Zhao F, Zhou Z. A meta-analysis of the correlation between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and renal injury. Int Urol Nephrol [Internet]. 2025;57(1):223–30. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-024-04160-z
Wang Y, Meagher RB, Ambati S, Cheng H, Ma P, Phillips BG. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea have altered levels of four cytokines associated with cardiovascular and kidney disease, but near normal levels with airways therapy. Nat Sci Sleep. 2021;13:457–66.
Gembillo G, Calimeri S, Tranchida V, Silipigni S, Vella D, Ferrara D, et al. Lung Dysfunction and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Complex Network of Multiple Interactions. J Pers Med. 2023;13(2).
Liu M, Heizhati M, Li N, Lin M, Gan L, Zhu Q, et al. The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and risk of renal impairment in patients with hypertension, a longitudinal study. Sleep Med [Internet]. 2023;109:18–24. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2023.05.020
Perticone M, Maio R, Scarpino PE, Mancuso L, Volpentesta M, Caroleo B, et al. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Improves Renal Function in Obese Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. Front Med. 2021;8(March):1–8.
Zamarrón E, Jaureguizar A, García-Sánchez A, Díaz-Cambriles T, Alonso-Fernández A, Lores V, et al. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Effect on Albuminuria Progression in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Diabetic Kidney Disease A Randomized Clinical Trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2023;207(6):757–67.
Nielsen S, Nyvad J, Christensen KL, Poulsen PL, Laugesen E, Grove EL, et al. Obstructive sleep apnea, coronary calcification and arterial stiffness in patients with diabetic kidney disease. Atherosclerosis. 2024;394(June 2023).
Nishimura A, Kasai T, Matsumura K, Kikuno S, Nagasawa K, Okubo M, et al. Obstructive sleep apnea during rapid eye movement sleep in patients with diabetic kidney disease. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(3):453–60.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Diverse Medical Research : Medicosphere

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
CC Attribution 4.0
