Snoring and cancer? A study of 3 million patients finds a link

Sleep apnea is already tied to heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic problems. But cancer?

A May 2026 study in BMC Pulmonary Medicine analyzed data from over 3 million hospitalized patients. Researchers matched 1.52 million adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) against 1.52 million without it, then tracked new disease diagnoses over five years.

The cancer finding stands out: OSA patients had a 40% higher risk of developing cancer within five years (risk ratio 1.40) compared to matched controls.

And it's not just cancer. The same OSA cohort showed elevated risks across the board — chronic ischemic heart disease (RR 1.36), COPD (1.64), asthma (1.96), diabetes (1.51), and overweight/obesity (2.70). All statistically significant.

The researchers argue OSA should be thought of as a systemic disorder, not just a breathing problem that makes you snore. The cancer risk magnitude was comparable to the non-malignant chronic conditions.

Important caveat: this is retrospective and observational. It shows association, not causation. People with OSA tend to be heavier and have more comorbidities — confounders that are hard to fully adjust for. Still, with 3 million patients, the signal is hard to ignore.

Source: Bigus S et al. Is obstructive sleep apnea a driver of cancer and chronic disease risk? BMC Pulmonary Medicine. 2026. DOI: 10.1186/s12890-026-04329-5