|
|
|
|
The estimated prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing,defined as an apnea-hypopnea score of 5 or higher,was 9 percent for women and 24 percent for men.We estimated that 2 percent of women and 4 percent of men in the middle-aged work force meet the minimal diagnostic criteria for the sleep apnea syndrome(an apnea-hypopnea score of 5 or higher and daytime hypersomnolence).Male sex and obesity were strongly associated presence of sleep-disordered breathing.Habitual snorers,both men and women,tended to have a higher prevalence of apnea-hypopnea scores of 15 or higher.The prevalence of undiagnosed sleep-disordered breathing is high among men and is much higher than previously suspected among women.Undiagnosed sleep- disordered breathing is associated with daytime hypersomnolence. |
|