Prevalence of Obesity among Adults Visiting Otorhinolaryngology Clinics for Snoring

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: This study aims to assess the prevalence of obesity and to estimate the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among adults visiting otorhinolaryngology (ORL) clinics for snoring. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of adult patients who visited ORL clinics at King Fahd Military Medical Complex for snoring in the period between October 2019 and March 2022. We utilized STOP and STOP-BANG screening tools to stratify OSA risk in the included subjects. Results: Eighty-five patients were included in this study. Most of the subjects were male (80%). Obesity was detected in 63 (74.1%) of the included subjects. Seventy-seven subjects (90.6%) were independently at risk of OSA based on the STOP-BANG questionnaire and STOP questionnaire. Conclusion: Obesity is common in adults visiting ORL clinics for snoring. The rate of OSA risk is high among adult patients visiting ORL clinics for snoring. Therefore, it is important for ORL practitioners to utilize OSA risk assessment tools and to have enough knowledge or access to sleep medicine clinics for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.