Age Adjusted Sex Differences in Clinical Features of Korean Patients With Snoring or Sleep Apnea: A Single-Center Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives Female are less likely to be diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) than male are and their symptoms are more likely to be overlooked because female usually show less typical classic symptoms of OSA, such as snoring, witnessed apnea, and daytime sleepiness. In this study, we identified sex effects among patients who complained of snoring or sleep apnea with adjusting for age.Subjects and Method This study design was retrospectively conducted to compare sex and age differences in 255 Korean patients complaining of snoring or sleep apnea by evaluating medical history, rhinomanometry, physical examination, and polysomnography.Results The sex difference in the apnea-hypopnea index decreased after 50 years of age. Female OSA patients complained of mild-to-moderate OSA with atypical symptoms. Male OSA patients showed Berlin questionnaire scores, retropalatal Muller maneuver grade, and high body mass index (BMI) as significant risk factors for OSA after adjusting for age. Female OSA patients showed retropalatal Muller maneuver grade and high BMI as significant risk factors. Berlin score was a typical risk factor in old male OSA patients.Conclusion Anatomical and hormonal factors were thought to be risk factors for OSA especially in females, but contrary to expectations, there were no risk factors in old females when adjusted for age. A careful approach should be taken to avoid overlooking sleep apnea in female.