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Vol. 44. Issue 12.
Pages 685-688 (January 2008)
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Vol. 44. Issue 12.
Pages 685-688 (January 2008)
Original Articles
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Differences in Clinical and Polysomnographic Variables Between Male and Female Patients With Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome
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Núria Rourea, Olga Medianoa, Joaquín Durán-Cantollab, Francisco García Ríoc, Mónica de la Peñad, Francisco Capotee, Joaquín Teránf, Juan Fernando Masag, David Gozalh, Ferran Barbéa,
Corresponding author
fbarbe@arnau.scs.es

Correspondence: Dr F. Barbé Servei de Pneumologia, Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova Rovira Roure, 8025198 Lleida, Spain
a Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova, IRBLLEIDA, Lleida, Spain
b Servicio de Neumología, Hospital de Txagorritxu, Vitoria, Álava, Spain
c Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
d Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
e Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain
f Servicio de Neumología, Hospital General Yagüe, Burgos, Spain
g Servicio de Neumología, Hospital San Pedro de Alcántara, Cáceres, Spain
h Division of Pediatric Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Kentucky, United States
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Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical, anthropometric, and polysomnographic characteristics of a broad group of patients with sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome according to sex.

Patients and methods

The study, conducted in 6 Spanish university hospitals, included consecutive patients attended from 2003 through 2005 with an apnea-hypopnea index greater than 5. Groups were formed according to sex and then stratified into age subgroups of younger (≤ 45 years) and older patients (>45 years) for further comparison.

Results

The study included 2464 men and 424 women. Women were older (mean [SD] age, 56 [12] years vs 51 [12] years), weighed more (body mass index, 31 [6] kg/m2 vs 30 [5] kg/m2), and had a larger hip circumference (119 [15] cm vs 111 [12] cm) and smaller neck circumference (38 [3] cm vs 42 [9] cm) than men (P<.001 in all cases). The degree of daytime sleepiness (Epworth scale) and the apnea-hypopnea index were similar in both groups, although women had a longer sleep latency (23[28] minutes vs 27 [32] minutes; P<.004) and a higher mean oxygen saturation (92% [4%] vs 91% [5%]) and minimum oxygen saturation (78% [11%] vs 75% [12%]; P<.0001) than men. On stratification by age, only weight differences between men and women were observed in the younger group whereas the older group also showed differences in oxygen saturation during sleep.

Conclusions

Women with sleep apnea-hypopnea are more overweight than men and tend to seek medical attention at an older age. The clinical and polysomnographic variables were generally similar for men and women—the only differences were that sleep latency was longer and hypoxemia during sleep was more accentuated in women.

Key words:
Sex
Polysomnography
Sleep apnea syndrome
Objetivo

Comparar, en una cohorte amplia de pacientes con síndrome de apneas-hipopneas durante el sueño, las características clínicas, antropométricas y polisomnográficas en función del sexo.

Pacientes y métodos

En el estudio, realizado en 6 hospitales universitarios españoles, se incluyó a pacientes consecutivos con un índice de apneas-hipopneas del sueño mayor de 5 h−1, que fueron evaluados entre 2003 y 2005. Se dividieron en función del sexo y, posteriormente, en función de la edad: pacientes jóvenes (≤ 45 años) y adultos (> 45 años).

Resultados

Se ha estudiado a 2.464 varones y 424 mujeres. Las mujeres eran mayores (edad media ± desviación estándar: 56 ± 12 frente a 51 ± 12 años; p < 0,0001), pesaban más (índice de masa corporal: 31 ± 6 frente a 30 ± 5 kg/m2; p < 0,0001) y presentaban una mayor circunferencia de cadera (119 ± 15 frente a 111 ± 12 cm; p < 0,0001) y una menor circunferencia de cuello (38 ± 3 frente a 42 ± 9 cm; p < 0,0001) que los varones. El grado de somnolencia diurna (escala de Epworth) y el índice de apneas-hipopneas eran similares en ambos grupos, aunque el de mujeres presentaba una latencia de sueño más larga (23 ± 28 frente a 27 ± 32 min; p < 0,004) y una saturación de oxígeno media (un 92 ± 4 frente a un 91 ± 5%) y mínima menor (un 78 ± 11 frente a un 75 ± 12%; p < 0,0001) que los varones. Al diferenciar los grupos por edad, en el grupo de jóvenes sólo se mantenían las diferencias ponderales, mientras que entre los adultos reaparecían las diferencias en los valores de saturación nocturna.

Conclusiones

Las mujeres con síndrome de apneas-hipopneas durante el sueño son más obesas que los varones y consultan a una edad más avanzada. Desde el punto de vista clínico y polisomnográfico, no hay grandes diferencias en función del sexo. Únicamente la latencia de sueño es superior y la hipoxemia nocturna más acentuada.

Palabras clave:
Sexo
Polisomnografía
Síndrome de apneas del sueño
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Study financed by the Spanish Health Research Fund (Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias de España) (Grant 0300022*), the National Institute for Health (Grant HL65270), the Children's Foundation Endowment for Sleep Research, an award from the Commonwealth of Kentucky Challenge for Excellence Trust Fund to David Gozal, and the CIBER for Respiratory Diseases (CibeRes).

Copyright © 2008. Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR)
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