Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in middle-aged Saudi women in primary care.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of symptoms and risks of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a sample of middle-aged Saudi women in a primary care using a validated questionnaire.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, trained medical students administered the Berlin Questionnaire to a consecutive random sample of Saudi women in the age group 35-60 years, attending the primary health care center in King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, between January and July 2007. Based on the questionnaire, individuals were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups for OSA.


RESULTS
Four hundred women with a mean body mass index of 31.3+7.2 kg/m2 were surveyed in this study. Among the study group, 40.8% reported snoring (everyday in 15%, 3-4 times a week in 7.5%, and one-2 times a week in 9.8%). Breathing pauses more than 3 times per week was present in 22.5%. Hypertension was present in 24.8%. Based on the Berlin Questionnaire stratification for risk of OSA, 39% were considered as high-risk patients for OSA.


CONCLUSIONS
In the primary care setting, the prevalence of symptoms of OSA among middle-aged Saudi women is very high. Almost 4 out of 10 middle-aged Saudi women are at risk for OSA, and may benefit from proper evaluation for OSA.
Bahammam
Ahmed S
AS
Sleep Disorders Center, College of Medicine, Department of Medicine 38, King Saud University, PO Box 225503, Riyadh 11324, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. ashammam2@gmail.com
Al-Rajeh
Mohammed S
MS
Al-Ibrahim
Fatimah S
FS
Arafah
Maria A
MA
Sharif
Munir M
MM
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology