Abstract
Background: Few studies focused on gender differences among patients with OSAS. The prevalence of hypertension was not elucidated after controlling for OSAS severity, age, and obesity grade in men and women, separately, and conflicting data were reported on the effect of gender on susceptibility to hypertension in OSAS.
Aim: To retrospectively assess gender-specific differences in patients with diagnosis of OSAS, with particular attention devoted to hypertension.
Methods: 1303 patients (20-90 years, 75% males) with symptoms suggestive of OSAS underwent overnight home polysomnography, and the apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 10 defined OSAS diagnosis.
Results: 73% of males and 56% of females had OSAS. Prevalences of obesity, metabolic disorders, and hypertension were significantly higher in females than males independent from OSAS. Females were significantly older than males only among the patients with OSAS. The risk for OSAS was significantly higher in males than females only in middle ages (40-59 years). OSAS was associated with obesity in both males (Odds ratio, OR 3.01, 95% Confidence Interval 2.18-4.15) and females (2.70, 1.64-4.45). Severe OSAS was a risk factor for hypertension independent from obesity in males (1.67, 1.02-2.63, and 2.61, 1.50-4.54, for non obese and obese, respectively). OSAS, whatever was its severity, was related to higher risk for hypertension neither in non-obese nor in obese females.
Conclusions: Although a clear male predominance, we confirmed that with increasing age the prevalence of OSAS in women becomes comparable to that of males. Among OSAS patients, the male gender was related to higher susceptibility to hypertension.
- © 2011 ERS