Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea – OSA (AHI≥5 events/hr)
| Age |
30-60 yrs (n=602) |
>65 yrs (n=420) |
| Male |
24% |
28% |
| Female |
9% |
20% |
Source: NEJM 1993; 328:1230-1235 / Sleep 1991; 14(6): 486-495
Risk Factors
- Obesity
- Alcohol and sedative drugs.
- Anatomic abnormalities such as receding chin.
- Enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
- Family history of OSA, although there are no proven genetics.
- Nasal obstruction.
- Smoking due to inflammation and airway narrowing.
- Other such as hypothyroidism, acromegaly, amyloidosis, vocal cord paralysis, post-polio syndrome, neuromuscular disorders, Marfan’s syndrome, Down’s syndrome.