%0 Journal Article %A Filipa Soares Pires %A Marta Drummond %A Inês Neves %A Cláudia Pinto %A Anabela Marinho %A Maria Sucena %A João Almeida %A João Winck %T Influence of gender in obstructive sleep apnea characteristics and treatment %D 2012 %J European Respiratory Journal %P P3846 %V 40 %N Suppl 56 %X INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was initially recognized as a disease of men. However, prevalence of OSA in women is not as low as historically thought. Little is known about the influence of gender in OSA.Aim: To assess gender differences in demographics, clinical presentation, sleep study findings and treatment parameters in OSA patients.METHODS: A transversal study was performed, including patients newly diagnosed with OSA, that initiated APAP treatment 6 months before.RESULTS: 187 patients were included, 128 male and 59 female. Women were older than men (60.5±7.9 vs. 54.4±13.0), their Body Mass Index (BMI) was higher (35.8±7.2 vs. 32.0±4.7) and neck circumference was lower (39.9±3.8 vs. 44.0±3.7). Comorbidities were more frequent in women, including hypertension. Women self-reported more frequently initial insomnia, awakenings, restless legs symptoms, gasping, nightmares, subjective poor sleep quality, depression and daytime sleepiness, but no difference was found in Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Self-reported snoring was similar in both genders. Apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) was higher in men (43.1±19.1 vs. 35.7±21.8), even after adjusting for age and BMI. Apnea/hypopnea duration was also higher in men (22.8±6.7 vs. 19.8±4.9 seconds). The 95th percentile of pressure (P95) at 6 months of APAP was superior in women (12.0±2.5 vs. 10.7±2.9).CONCLUSION:Gender differences need to be aware when assessing women for OSA. Women report more symptoms and poor sleep quality at a lower AHI and have more significant comorbidities. Despite a higher BMI, OSA severity was lower in females. %U https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/40/Suppl_56/P3846.full.pdf