title: Leisure-time physical activity predicts complaints of snoring in women: a prospective cohort study over 10 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to assess the impact of self-reported physical activity on incidence and remission of snoring complaints in women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based sample of 4851 women aged >20 years responded to questionnaires in years 2000 and 2010. Based on the responses, the women were categorized into low, medium, or high level of physical activity at baseline and at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of habitual snoring complaints increased from 7.6% at baseline to 9.2% in 2010 (P<.0001). After adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), waist and neck circumference, weight gain, smoking status, alcohol dependence, and snoring status at baseline, reported physical activity level at baseline had a protective effect on habitual snoring complaints at follow-up. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence intervals) for complaints of habitual snoring was 0.7 (0.5-0.9) for the reported medium physical activity level and 0.5 (0.4-0.8) for the high activity level. When subdividing the population by changes in reported physical activity level over the follow-up period, an increase in physical activity was followed by a decrease in the complaint of snoring. Similarly a high level of reported physical activity only had a protective effect on snoring in participants who remained at a high or medium level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A low level of self-reported physical activity is a risk factor for future habitual snoring complaints in women, independent of weight, weight gain, alcohol dependence, and smoking. Increased physical activity can modify the risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Physiotherapy, Uppsala University, Box 593, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: soren.sporndly-nees@neuro.uu.se.
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spörndly-Nees
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Physiotherapy, Uppsala University, Box 593, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pernilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Åsenlöf
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Uppsala University, Akademiska sjukhuset, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Theorell-Haglöw
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, OtoRhinoloaryngology, Uppsala University, Akademiska sjukhuset, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Malin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Physiotherapy, Uppsala University, Box 593, 75124 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Igelström
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Uppsala University, Akademiska sjukhuset, SE-75185 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lindberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000145:classification; D009043:Motor Activity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065840:Protective Factors; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012913:Snoring / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body weight; Epidemiology; Physical activity; Public health; Risk factors; Sleep-disordered breathing