title: Socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics associated with the risk for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in a rural population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics in relationship to the risk for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out on 254 subjects. Socio-demographic data (age, gender, occupation, education level, and economic status), smoking status, alcohol consumption, and hours/day spent watching TV were recorded. For physical activity assessment the international physical activity questionnaire and for identifying the risk for OSAS Berlin Questionnaire were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 254 subjects, 29.4% of men and 36.8% of women were at high risk for OSAS (p=0.22). Age was higher in the group at high risk for OSAS (p=0.002) and in women (p<0.001). The highest percentage (47.5%) of participants at high risk for OSAS was found among retired people, whereas farmers generated the lowest percentage (18.6 %) (p<0.001). 57.1% of retired women were at high risk for OSAS as compared to 5.6% of the farmers (p<0.001). Education level and monthly income did not influence the risk of OSAS (p=0.172, p=0.113, respectively). No differences in the risk of OSAS were found in relation with smoking (p=0.887), alcohol consumption (p=0.688), and sedentary lifestyle. We found that individuals at low risk for OSAS performed more physical activity at work (p=0.053) and significantly more vigorous physical activity (p=0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the study rural population, age, occupation and physical activity are related to the risk for OSAS.
authors.affiliation: student at University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa-Iaşi School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Otilia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Niţiă
authors.forename: Lidia Iuliana
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Graur
authors.forename: Dana Stefana
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Alina Delia
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Popa
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Boişteanu
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000465:Algorithms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires