title: Is snoring intensity responsible for the sleep partner's poor quality of sleep?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine if the intensity of breathing noise (including snoring) and/or the presence of abnormal breathing events (ABE) are factors that trigger arousal/awakening of a snorer's bed partner.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective multicenter study investigating couples where the male had a chronic disturbing snoring. We simultaneously recorded the male's respiration and snoring and the female' sleep. We counted the number of arousals and awakenings during N2 sleep and randomly took nine of each. Then, for periods before, during, and after each arousal and awakening, we observed on the respiratory tracings what was happening in terms of breathing noise intensity and presence/absence of snoring and/or ABE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen couples were analyzed. The intensity of breathing noise and the presence/absence of snoring and/or ABE were comparable before and at initiation of arousal/awakening and between arousal and awakening. However, breathing volume intensity was lower and the presence of snoring and/or ABE was less frequent when the bed partner returned back to sleep from awakening compared to the other periods (p always <0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intensity of breathing noise or the presence of ABE does not seem to be essential to trigger an arousal or an awakening. However, the persistence of noise or events may prolong the duration of wakefulness during the sleep period and could be one factor that explains the bothersome snoring.
authors: APHP, Raymond Poincaré Teaching Hospital, Université Versailles St Quentin en Yvelines, Physiology, Functional Testing, and Technological Innovations Centre, Garches, France. blumen@cmvs.fr
authors: Marc B
authors: MB
authors: Blumen
authors: Maria Antonia
authors: MA
authors: Quera Salva
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Vaugier
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Leroux
authors: Marie-Pia
authors: MP
authors: d'Ortho
authors: Frédéric
authors: F
authors: Barbot
authors: Frederic
authors: F
authors: Chabolle
authors: Frederic
authors: F
authors: Lofaso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012119:Respiration; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D013018:Sound Spectrography; D014851:Wakefulness