The Apnea-Hypopnea Index Underestimates Systemic Inflammation in Women with Sleep-Disordered Breathing.

Evidence suggests that sleep-related respiratory and related metabolic compromise may vary between females and males with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). Our purpose was to elucidate possible gender differences in sleep-associated respiratory and inflammatory parameters in patients with SDB.A consecutive number of SDB patients (46 females and 167 males) who underwent polysomnography were retrospectively reviewed. Fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, apnea index (ApnI), hypopnea index (HypI), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), average and minimal SpOApnI and AHI were significantly higher in males. Correlation analysis revealed striking gender differences: only in females, CRP co…