RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 For publication in the European Respiratory Journal JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP erj00467-2010 DO 10.1183/09031936.00046710 A1 J. Hedner A1 L. Grote A1 M. Bonsignore A1 W. McNicholas A1 P. Lavie A1 G. Parati A1 P. Sliwinski A1 F. Barbé A1 P. Escourrou A1 I. Fietze A1 J.F. Masa A1 J.A. Kvamme A1 C. Lombardi A1 O. Marrone A1 J.M. Montserrat A1 T. Penzel A1 M. Pretl A1 R. Riha A1 D. Rodenstein A1 T. Saaresranta A1 R. Schulz A1 R. Tkacova A1 G. Varoneckas A1 A. Vitols A1 H. Vrints A1 J. Zielinski A1 W DeBacker YR 2011 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/05/26/09031936.00046710.abstract AB The European Sleep Apnoea Database (ESADA) reflects a network of 22 sleep disorder centres in Europe enabled by a COST action B26 program. This ongoing project aims to describe differences in standard clinical care of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and to establish a resource for genetic research in this disorder.Patients with suspected OSA are consecutively included and followed up according to local clinical standards. Anthropometrics, medical history, medication, daytime symptoms and sleep data (polysomnography or cardiorespiratory polygraphy) are recorded in a structured web-based report form.5103 patients (1426 females, age 51.8±12.6 years, 79.4% with AHI≥5 events·hr−1) were included from March 15, 2007 to August 1, 2009. Morbid obesity (BMI≥35 kg·m−2) was present in 21.1% of males and 28.6% of women. Cardiovascular, metabolic, and pulmonary comorbidities were frequent (49.1, 32.9 and 14.2%, respectively). Patients investigated with a polygraphic method had a lower AHI than those undergoing polysomnography (23.2±23.5 vs. 29.1±26.3 events·hour−1, p<0.0001).The ESADA is a rapidly growing multicentric patient cohort that enables unique outcome research opportunities and genotyping. The first cross sectional analysis reveals a high prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity in patients investigated for OSAS.