Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Background: Sleep apnea is characterized by cessation of breathing during sleep. It is often prevalent among patients with cardiovascular disorders. Ticagrelor, an anti-platelet drug, can have significant implications on the health of a patient. It is suspected to have potential impacts on sleep including sleep apnea. However, the extent of the association between ticagrelor and sleep apnea is unclear.

Hypothesis: This meta-analysis evaluates the association between ticagrelor and the association of sleep apnea compared to placebo.

Method: We systematically searched for relevant articles published until March 2024, on PubMed, Google Scholar and Embase. Odds ratios (OR) were pooled using the random-effects DerSimonian-Laird model, and a p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Result: A total of four observational studies were included in the analysis.
The use of ticagrelor was associated with increased odds of sleep apnea [OR 4.16, (95% CI: 2.63-5.70), I²=0.00% p=0.00] with statistical significance.

Conclusion:
The use of ticagrelor is associated with a significant increase in the risk of sleep apnea compared to placebo. Thus, there should be careful consideration of the risk of sleep apnea when prescribing ticagrelor. Despite these findings, further large-scale studies are warranted to justify these results in larger sample sizes.