Symptoms of sleep apnea syndrome: high prevalence and underdiagnosis in the French population.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of symptoms evocative of obstructive sleep apnea (SE-OSA) and the magnitude of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) underdiagnosis.


METHODS
We used data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2008 in a representative sample of the French general population. Data were collected through interviews and self-administrated questionnaires and were complete for 12,203 adults (≥16 years old). SE-OSA was defined by snoring almost every night plus witnessed apneas or excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth sleepiness scale score>10).


RESULTS
The prevalence of SE-OSA was 4.9% (95% CI: 4.5-5.3), and that of self-reported OSA diagnosis was 2.4% (2.1-2.7). The prevalence of SE-OSA was 8% among people with hypertension and 11% among obese people. A previous sleep monitoring session was reported by 2.7% (2.4-3.0) of the participants and by 15.1% of people with SE-OSA. This latter proportion increased with age (24% in people with SE-OSA aged 60 years or over) and was higher in obese people (26%) and in those with chronic diseases (27% among people with hypertension).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of SE-OSA is high in France and OSA remains underdiagnosed, even in people with obesity or hypertension. Further efforts are needed to improve the diagnosis of OSA.
Institut de veille sanitaire, 12 rue du Val d'Osne, 94415 Saint-Maurice Cedex, France. c.fuhrman@invs.sante.fr
Claire
C
Fuhrman
Bernard
B
Fleury
Xuân-Lan
XL
Nguyên
Marie-Christine
MC
Delmas
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult