title: Risk for sleep apnea syndrome in Pakistan: a cross-sectional survey utilizing the Berlin questionnaire.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of individuals at high risk for developing obstructive sleep apnea in the Pakistani population using a validated questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional survey using a pre-validated, interviewer-administered questionnaire conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital. All healthy individuals above 18 years of age attending a seminar were included as participants after consent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of people in the high-risk group was calculated to be 12.4% out of a population of 137. Presence of snoring, hypertension, and body mass index >27.5 kg/m(2) was found to be more prevalent in high-risk individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant proportion of the population is at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Medical College, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. fawadtaj@gmail.com
authors.forename: Fawad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taj
authors.forename: Zarmeneh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aly
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arif
authors.forename: Bhojo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khealani
authors.forename: Mansoor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017286:Polysomnography; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult