Exploring the prevalence of risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea in women.

Background

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a major risk factor for several medical conditions and poor quality of life.

Objective

The objective of the study was to conduct an exploratory study to assess the prevalence of risk factors related to OSA in the adult female population seeking health care treatment at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores (ENES) Unidad León.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 151 female patients using the STOP-BANG questionnaire with items related to snoring, fatigue, tiredness, sleepiness during the day, breathing interruptions, body mass index, age, neck circumference, and sex.

Results

Regarding age, 87.5% of females who presented sleep-related breathing disorders symptoms (p = 0.031) and 72.8% of females who woke up with fatigue (p = 0.002) were < 50 years old. However, females over 50 years with a neck circumference > 41 cm were 3.0 times more likely to experience fatigue, tiredness, and sleepiness during the daytime due to possible OSA. Snoring was not significantly associated with OSA risk factors; and female with a body mass index (BMI) > 35 kg/m2, representing a 6.4 times greater likelihood of experiencing sleep-related breathing disorders due to OSA.

Conclusion

Within the limitations of this study, we confirmed that women < 50 years old reported greater fatigue and more sleep-related breathing disorders symptoms; and females with a high BMI also showed a higher risk of developing OSA.