mpact of Gender on Symptoms and Comorbidities in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Abstract

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is more common in men than in women. In this study, we aimedto address the impact of gender on symptoms and comorbidities in patients with OSA.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,317 consecutive patients, whowere admitted to the Sleep Apnea Clinic of the Marmara University Hospital between November 2015 andOctober 2018, and who completed questionnaires and a sleep study with cardiorespiratory polygraphy. OSAwas defined as Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) ≥15/hour.Results: In all, 1,042 patients (334 women) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. OSA was observed in 589 patients(56.5%). Women were older than men (50.2±12.5 versus 45.6±15.1 years) and had lower AHI (22.1±20.1versus 26.8±21.9 events/h). In the OSA group, women were older (53.7±11.5 versus 47.8±12.8 years) andmore obese (BMI 34.6 versus 31.8 kg/m2). Symptoms were categorized as frequent/very frequent, and women with OSA complained more about daytime fatigue (74.6% versus 63.7%), nocturia (69.7% versus 51.8%),headache in the morning (50.0% versus 28.4%), depressive mood (49.0% versus 19.5%), and restless legssymptoms (43.1% versus 17.2%), than did men (all p values