Reasons for women visiting sleep unit – A Greek population

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most frequent sleep disorder and is traditionally characterized as a men disease. Fewer data exist regarding women sleep disorders.

Purpose: to investigate the reasons/symptons for women visiting the sleep unit and if these symptoms are differentiated when asked by the sleep doctor and according to age and OSA severity

Methods: Retrospective study of female patients visited our sleep unit during a 4-month period. Patients were stratified in age-groups, A:18-44-year-old B:45-64 and C:≥65 and in groups according to OSA severity. Patients’ symptoms, reason for referral and AHI were recorded. χ2 and one-way ANOVA were used.

Results: 120 women visited our sleep unit, mostly due to OSA symptoms (97,5%). Their main symptoms are snoring, apnea, fatigue, sleepiness and insomnia. More patients in group C visited the unit following doctor’s referral, whereas groups A and B presented mainly due to symptoms. The main self reported symptoms of group A and B were fatigue and sleepiness (Fatigue group A: 21,7%, Β:14,7%, C: 0% and Slepiness group A: 21,7%, Β: 20,0%, C: 0%). When asked by the doctor group C mentioned fatigue as symptom, still in a smaller percentage compared to group A and B. Nocturia and enuresis are reported as symptoms mainly when asked by the doctor and mainly in group C. (Nocturia group A: 25%, Β:51,4%, C: 71,4% and Enuresis group A: 0%, Β:0%, C: 9,5%). Apnea, observed apnea, and night sweats were reported frequently as OSA severity is increased.

Conclusion: OSA is the main reason for women visiting sleep unit. Their symptoms are differentiated when asked by the doctor compared to self -report and also according to age and OSA severity.