Women are suffering from higher levels of sleep apnoea than first thought – study

Friday 17th August 2012

A study in Sweden has found that despite sleep apnoea being predominately linked to males, women are also suffering from higher levels of the sleep condition than before.

The study that was carried out at Uppsala University and Umea University analysed 400 women from a random sample of 10,000 women. The participants underwent a sleep examination and answered a questionnaire.

Previously it was thought that Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) was more prevalent in men than women, however this study has found that OSA was present in 50% of women aged 20 years old. The researchers found a link between age, obesity and hypertension. 80% of women with hypertension and 84% of obese women suffered from sleep apnoea. It was also found that severe sleep apnoea was present in 31% of women that were obese and aged 55-70 years old.

The findings of the study surprised Karl Franklin, lead professor of the study at Umea university because it has been traditionally thought that sleep apnoea was a male disorder.

Tags: Sleep apnoea study

Category: Sleep Research

< Back to blogs home