Sleep apnoea is not a directly inherited condition, but in practice it is often observed to run in families. This is because The hereditary nature of sleep apnoea relates primarily to anatomical features and metabolic predispositions, rather than the disease itself. Families may share similar craniofacial features, such as a receding lower jaw, a narrow palate or a specific structure of the throat. These factors may contribute to the collapse of the airways during sleep.

Furthermore, a predisposition to being overweight or obese may also have a genetic basis, which increases the risk of developing sleep apnoea. It is worth emphasising, however, that genetics alone do not determine whether the condition will develop. Environmental factors, such as lifestyle, diet, physical activity and sleep hygiene, are also of great importance.

Sleep apnoea should therefore be regarded as a multifactorial condition in which genes increase susceptibility but do not determine whether the condition develops.