Weight gain is both a significant risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea and a side-effect of long-term systemic steroids therapy.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of long-term systemic steroid treatment on sleep apnea.

Inclusion Criteria:

• For inclusion, a scheduled therapy with a minimum daily dose of 10 mg prednisone (or equivalent) for at least 3 months was required

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients younger than 18 years and those with known sleep apnea or other forms of sleep-disordered breathing were excluded

patients scheduled for long-term treatment with oral prednisone (> 10 mg/d for 3 months or more)