Chest
Original Research: Sleep MedicinePrevalence of Symptoms and Risk of Sleep Apnea in the US Population
Section snippets
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Data pertaining to the prevalence of those at risk for sleep apnea in this report are from the 2005 National Sleep Foundation (NSF) annual Sleep in America poll. The NSF is an independent nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving public health and safety by achieving an understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, and by supporting education, sleep-related research, and advocacy (www.sleepfoundation.org). Established in 1990, the NSF relies on voluntary contributions as well as
RESULTS
The characteristics of the sample are listed in Table 1. This sample included a similar number of men (n = 731; 49%) and women (n = 775; 51%). The mean age was 49 years. Most reported having a partner, with 62% married, 33% single, and 5% living with someone (“partnered”). Geographic distribution was consistent with the US population, as follows: 36% lived in the South; 21% lived in the West; 24% lived in the Midwest; and 19% lived in the Northeast. The race/ethnicity of the sample included 84%
DISCUSSION
The most striking finding of this study was that one in four individuals of a representative sample of US adults appears to be at high risk for OSA. In 1993, the classic Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study reported that 4% of men and 2% of women cohort met what the investigators called “minimal diagnostic criteria” for OSA, defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of > 5 events per hour that was associated with daytime hypersomnolence.24 This value appears repeatedly in the current literature. In this
REFERENCES (36)
- et al.
Erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and nasal CPAP treatment
Sleep Med
(2005) - et al.
Mortality in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea patients treated with positive airway pressure
Chest
(2005) - et al.
Long-term cardiovascular outcomes in men with obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea with or without treatment with continuous positive airway pressure: an observational study
Lancet
(2005) - et al.
Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in primary care
Chest
(2003) - et al.
Association of sleep-disordered breathing, sleep apnea, and hypertension in a large community-based study
JAMA
(2000) - et al.
Prospective study of the association between sleep-disordered breathing and hypertension
N Engl J Med
(2000) - et al.
Increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged men with obstructive sleep apnea: a 7-year follow-up
Am J Respir Crit Care Med
(2002) - et al.
Cardiovascular effects of continuous positive airway pressure in patients with heart failure and obstructive sleep apnea
N Engl J Med
(2003) - et al.
Obstructive sleep apnea as a risk factor for stroke and death
N Engl J Med
(2005) - et al.
Type 2 diabetes, glycemic control, and continuous positive airway pressure in obstructive sleep apnea
Arch Intern Med
(2005)
All-cause mortality in males with sleep apnoea syndrome: declining mortality rates with age
Eur Respir J
Effect of CPAP therapy on daytime function in patients with mild sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome
Thorax
Time course of changes in driving simulator performance with and without treatment in patients with sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome
Thorax
Reduction in motor vehicle collisions following treatment of sleep apnoea with nasal CPAP
Thorax
Incidence of sleep-disordered breathing in an urban adult population: the relative importance of risk factors in the development of sleep-disordered breathing
JAMA
Epidemiology of obstructive sleep apnea: a population health perspective
Am J Respir Crit Care Med
Estimation of the clinically diagnosed proportion of sleep apnea syndrome in middle-aged men and women
Sleep
Using the Berlin Questionnaire to identify patients at risk for the sleep apnea syndrome
Ann Intern Med
Cited by (0)
The authors have reported to the ACCP that no significant conflicts of interest exist with any companies/organizations whose products or services may be discussed in this article.
Reproduction of this article is prohibited without written permission from the American College of Chest Physicians (www.chestjournal.org/misc/reprints.shtml).