Extract
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is no longer considered to be a disease of males only. The latest prevalence estimates of moderate-to-severe OSA in women range from 6% to 20% [1, 2], resulting in male/female ratio from 3/1 to 2/1 [1]. These figures may still underestimate the prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in women, in whom the upper airway obstruction often manifests as noncountable, nonapnoeic respiratory events (snoring, flow limitation or partial upper airway obstruction) [3–6]. Failure to recognise the distinct clinical presentation and partial obstruction in sleep studies may lead to under-recognition of SDB in females [7, 8]. For instance, prior to diagnosing OSA, women are twice as likely as men to be treated for depression [7].
Abstract
Predominance of low AHI and partial upper airway obstruction may lead to undertreatment of female SDB http://ow.ly/TKN7d
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: Disclosures can be found alongside this article at openres.ersjournals.com
- Received August 28, 2015.
- Accepted October 11, 2014.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015.
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