Snoring & sleep apnea: A population study in Italian women

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of sle ep-disordered breathing by means of a validated portable instrument (MESAM IV) and to investigate the relationship between snoring and sleep apnea in a sample of Italian middle-aged female population. We randomly chose 750 su bjects aged 40 to 65 years and 365 agreed to participate to the study. In t his group, 19.7% of subjects were every-night snorers according to the ques tionnaire; when recorded, 54.2% snored for more than 10% of the night, and 7.1% for more than 50% of the night. Sleep apnea was also common: 10.7% of subjects had a respiratory disturbances per hour (RDI) between 5 and 9, 7.7 % an RDI between 10 and 19, and 2.2% had an RDI greater than or equal to 20 . Snoring percentage and RDI were significantly correlated. However, 50% of subjects who snored for more than half the night had no evidence of sleep apnea, Snoring amount >50% resulted influenced by body mass index, while RD I>10 was influenced by neck diameter. We concluded that in middle-aged wome n, both snoring and sleep apnea are very common. A high percentage of snori ng is not essential for the occurrence of sleep apnea, nor it necessarily i ndicates the presence of sleep apnea.