Prevalence of habitual snoring and symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing in adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
Sleep-disordered breathing is an important public health problem in adolescents. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of habitual snoring and symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing in adolescents.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted with children from primary schools and high schools that the ages ranged from 12 to 17 years. Data were collected by physical examination and questionnaires filled in by parents regarding sleep habits and possible risk factors of snoring. According to answers, children were classified into three groups: non-snorers, occasional snorers, and habitual snorers.


RESULTS
The response rate was 79.2%; 1030 of 1300 questionnaires were fully completed and analyzed. The prevalence of habitual snoring was 4.0%. Habitual snorers had significantly more nighttime symptoms including observed apneas, difficulty breathing, restless sleep and mouth breathing during sleep compared to occasional and non-snorers. Prevalence of habitual snoring was increased in children who had had tonsillar hypertrophy, allergic rhinitis, and maternal smoking.


CONCLUSIONS
We found the prevalence of habitual snoring to be 4.0% in adolescents from the province of Manisa, Turkey which is low compared to previous studies. Habitual snoring is an important problem in adolescents and habitual snorers had significantly more nighttime symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing compared to non-snorers.
Department of Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonology, School of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, Manisa 45020, Turkey. ayhansogut29@yahoo.com
Ayhan
A
Sogut
Ozge
O
Yilmaz
Gonul
G
Dinc
Hasan
H
Yuksel
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D015995:Prevalence; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution