Is obstructive sleep apnea associated with erythrocytosis? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and erythrocytosis. Methods: The PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for articles examining hematocrit values in patients with OSA and control individuals published till September 1, 2021. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated, and subgroup analyses were performed. Results: Eleven eligible studies with a total of 4608 patients with OSA were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled outcomes revealed that hematocrit values were significantly higher in patients with OSA than in controls (SMD, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.08–0.29; p