Risk Factors
4% of men and 2% of women in the United States have OSAS
Obesity is a strong risk factor for sleep apnea
Cigarette smoking increases the risk
Alcohol exacerbate sleep-disordered breathing
Sleep-disordered breathing events are twice as common in males as in females. Approximately 4% of men and 2% of women in the United States have OSAS. The prevalence is higher in nonwhites (16.3%) than in the non-Hispanic white population (2% to 4%, as stated above).
Obesity is also a strong, well-documented risk factor for sleep apnea. An anthropometric finding such as body mass index (BMI; measured as kg/m2) is a major positive predictor. Patients with values greater than 28 kg/m2 (clinically obese) are more likely to develop OSA than are those with lower BMIs. Among patients who are eventually treated for sleep apnea, 40% to 60% have BMIs greater than 28 kg/m2. A neck circumference greater than 17 inches in males or greater than 16 inches in females is also a positive predictor for OSA.
Another risk factor for OSA is age. The prevalence of clinically significant sleep-disordered breathing peaks in middle age, although the number of asymptomatic persons who meet numerical criteria for OSA increases with age. A genetic predisposition may also underlie sleep apnea. Certain familial craniofacial features, including a high-arched "ogival" hard palate, may be strong indicators of risk for OSAS. A receding chin is also a risk factor for OSA .
Lifestyle factors also affect the likelihood of developing OSA. Cigarette smoking increases the risk, which appears to resolve with smoking cessation. Alcohol intake the ingestion of muscle relaxants and respiratory depressants (notably, benzodiazepine hypnotics) can exacerbate sleep-disordered breathing. Also, irritant-related upper airway disorders can aggravate OSA
