Gender's Role in OSA

There are gender differences in obstructive sleep apnea(OSA), according to a study reported in Sleep (March 2005). Thestudy involved 260 participants (n = 130 men, and n = 130women) with the condition. The findings indicated that womenwere more likely than men to have a history of 3 conditions: treatmentfor depression, hypothyroidism, and insomnia. Theresearchers also recommended that physicians watch for sleepapnea in obese women with a history of any of those conditions.

The results of the study, however, showed no major gender differencesconcerning prevalence of sleep-related symptoms (ie,excessive daytime sleepiness, restless legs syndrome, anddreaming on sleep onset). The researchers also found that bothgenders developed symptoms of OSA at about the same age—the mid-30s to early 40s.