Obstructive Sleep Apnea is just a Men’s Disease?
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Does Not Discriminate Against Sex or Age.
In the European Respiratory Journal, Swedish scientists reported that OSA is common in both sexes, a disorder that was thought to mainly affect men.
Dr. Karl Franklin and his team set out to find out how prevalent sleep apnea is among women and how often symptoms occur. Out of a population-based random sample of 10,000 women between the ages of 20 and 70 years, they gathered data on 400 of them. The test group were given questionnaires which included several questions regarding their sleeping habits and sleep quality. They also underwent overnight polysomnography.
The authors concluded:
“Obstructive sleep apnea occurs in 50% of females aged 20-70 years. 20% of females have moderate, and 6% severe sleep apnea. Sleep apnoea in females is related to age, obesity and hypertension but not to daytime sleepiness. When searching for sleep apnea in females, females with hypertension or obesity should be investigated.”
“Obstructive sleep apnea occurs in 50% of females aged 20-70 years. 20% of females have moderate, and 6% severe sleep apnea. Sleep apnoea in females is related to age, obesity and hypertension but not to daytime sleepiness. When searching for sleep apnea in females, females with hypertension or obesity should be investigated.”
- A apnea-hypopnea index of 30 or more (severe symptoms) affected 14% of the participants aged 55 or more
- 31% of the women who were obese and at least 50 years of age had severe sleep apnea
