6533b7d6fe1ef96bd1267030
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Sex differences in obstructive sleep apnoea.
Tarja SaaresrantaTarja SaaresrantaRenata L. RihaMaria R. BonsignoreMaria R. Bonsignoresubject
Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMalemedicine.medical_specialtyPediatricsSettore MED/10 - Malattie Dell'Apparato Respiratorio030204 cardiovascular system & hematology03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineSex FactorsRisk FactorsEpidemiologymedicineInsomniaHumanslcsh:RC705-779PregnancySleep Apnea Obstructivewomen upper airways sleepbusiness.industrySleep apnealcsh:Diseases of the respiratory systemAirway obstructionmedicine.diseaseSleep in non-human animalsrespiratory tract diseasesMenopause030228 respiratory systemFemalePresentation (obstetrics)medicine.symptombusinessdescription
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) have long been considered predominantly male-related conditions. The clinical presentation of sleep disordered breathing in females differs from males and can vary with age and physiological status,e.g.menopause and pregnancy. Overall, females appear to be more symptomatic, with lower apnoea–hypopnoea index scores compared to males. Furthermore, they appear to have more prolonged partial upper airway obstruction, and may report insomnia as a symptom of OSAHS more frequently. As a consequence of these differences in clinical presentation, females with sleep disordered breathing are often underdiagnosed and undertreated compared to males. This review is aimed at discussing the epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathophysiology and hormonal and metabolic differences in females who present with OSA/OSAHS in comparison to males.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-11-01 | European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society |