The snoring spectrum - Acoustic assessment of snoring sound intensity in 1,139 individuals undergoing polysomnography

Study objectives: To quantify the snoring sound intensity levels generated by individuals during polysomnographic testing and to examine the relations hips between acoustic, polysomnographic, and clinical variables. Design: The prospective acquisition of acoustic and polysomnographic data w ith a retrospective medical chart review. Setting: A sleep laboratory at a primary care hospital. Participants: All 1,139 of the patients referred to the sleep laboratory fo r polysomnographic testing from 1980 to 1994. Interventions: The acoustic measurement of snoring sound intensity during s leep concurrent with polysomnographic testing. Measurements and results: Four decibel levels were derived from snoring sou nd intensity recordings. L-1, L-5, and L-10 are measures of the sound press ure measurement in decibels employing the A-weighting network that yields t he response of the human ear exceeded, respectively, for 1, 5, and 10% of t he test period. The Leg is a measure of the A-weighted average intensity of a fluctuating; acoustic signal over the total test period. L-10 levels abo ve 55 dBA were exceeded by 12.3% of the patients. The average levels of sno ring sound intensity were significantly higher for men than for women. The levels of snoring sound intensity were associated significantly with the fo llowing: polysomnographic testing results, including the respiratory distur bance index (RDI), sleep latency, and the percentage of slow-wave sleep; de mographic factors, including gender and body mass; and clinical factors, in cluding snoring history, hypersomnolence, and breathing stoppage, Men with a body mass index of > 30 and an average snoring sound intensity of > 38 dB A were 4.1 times more likely to have an RDI of > 10. Conclusions: Snoring sound intensity levels are related to a number of demo graphic, clinical, and polysomnographic test results, Snoring sound intensi ty is closely related to apnea/hypopnea during sleep. The noise generated b y snoring can disturb or disrupt a snorer's sleep, as wed as the sleep of a bed partner.