SNORING, FAMILY HISTORY, AND GENETIC-MARKERS IN MEN - THE COPENHAGEN MALE STUDY

Background: No studies have attempted to examine the genetic influence on the habit of snoring, The aim of the present study was to examine whether an association existed between self-reported snoring and famil y history of snoring and a number of genetic markers. Material and met hods: The data were derived from a primarily cardiovascular disease co hort study of 3,387 men aged 54 to 74 years. A number of sleep-related questions were included. Some 3,308 men had given valid questionnaire information on snoring and whether they had their own bedroom due to snoring and were regarded eligible for the present study. Men who repo rted that they snored often or always were considered habitual snorers , and those who reported that they seldom or never snored were conside red nonsnorers. We considered habitual snorers who reported that they had their own bedroom due to snoring to be a group with a presumably m ore severe form of snoring. Information about other health and lifesty le parameters was obtained from a comprehensive questionnaire, Four ma jor blood groups were determined: ABO, Rhesus, MNS, and Lewis, togethe r with complement C3. A saliva sample was taken for determination of A BH secretor status. Results: There was a strong relationship between h abitual snoring and family history of snoring among grandparents, pare nts, siblings, and children, Odds ratios were from 2.4 to 4.2, and all associations were significant (p < 0.05). In multivariable analysis, the factor which most strongly separated habitual snorers from nonsnor ers, was self-reported habitual snoring among family members. Looking at habitual snorers only, the factors most strongly separating those w ith their own bedroom due to snoring from those without, were the Lewi s blood group phenotype, Le(a + b -) (29.6 vs 18.8%; p < 0.001; age, 6 3.4 vs 62.1 years; p < 0.01), and self-reported family history of habi tual snoring (35.2 vs 29.0%; p < 0.05). Conclusion: between habitual s noring and family history of snoring. Among habitual snorers, two gene tic markers and age, were the only factors that separated men who had their own bedroom due to snoring from others. The results of this stud y indicate that snoring, to some extent, is hereditary.