Sleep apnea is a disorder characterized by a reduction or cessation (pause of breathing, airflow) during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common variety, occurring in approximately 2 percent of women and 4 percent of men over the age of 35.

A study in the journal Rheumatology, "The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in ankylosing spondylitis patients", finds that, "The prevalence of OSAS in AS patients is higher than reported in the general population."

They add that the average age of AS patients with OSAS tends to be higher than those that do not.

For more information on sleep apnea, click here.

To read the study's abstract, click here.

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