Marital status and sleep-disordered breathing in a sample of middle-aged French men.
The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that unmarried (single) men have more sleep-disordered breathing symptoms due to a higher prevalence of obesity and a less healthy lifestyle than men living with a partner. Men (499) aged 23-66 years completed a structured questionnaire, had standard anthropometric measurements and a simple, noninvasive nose-throat examination. Of the 499,496 subjects answered the question concerning their marital status; 86% of them were married or lived with a partner (reference group) and the other 14% had never been married, divorced, or widowed ("single" group, considered at risk). Single subjects were younger, included slightly more smokers (30 vs. 23%) and more subjects with a history of chronic bronchitis, and less frequently had a large soft palate. The prevalence of sleep-disordered symptoms was not significantly different between the two groups. However, a study involving a larger number of subjects with information regarding alcoholic consumption may be needed to further evaluate this question.
Teculescu
D
D
Faculté de Médecine, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) ESPRI, Vandoeuvre-Lès-Nancy, France. Dan.Teculescu@nancy.inserm.fr
Hannhart
B
B
Virion
J M
JM
Montaut-Verient
B
B
Michaely
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012847:Single Person; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio