title: Prevalence and predictors of habitual snoring in a sample of Saudi middle-aged adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of habitual snoring among a sample of middle-aged Saudi adults, and its potential predictors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2013 until June 2013 in randomly selected Saudi Schools in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The enrolled subjects were 2682 school employees (aged 30-60 years, 52.1% females) who were randomly selected and interviewed. The questionnaire used for the interview included: the Wisconsin Sleep Questionnaire to assess for snoring, medical history, and socio-demographic data. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure readings were recorded using standard methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty percent of the 2682 enrolled subjects were snorers: 23.5% were habitual snorers, 16.6% were moderate snorers, and 59.9%, were non-snorers. A multivariate analysis revealed that independent predictors of snoring were ageing, male gender, daytime sleepiness, hypertension, family history of both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, water-pipe smoking, and consanguinity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that snoring is a common condition among the Saudi population. Previously reported risk factors were reemphasized but consanguinity was identified as a new independent predictive risk factor of snoring. Exploring snoring history should be part of the clinical evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Sleep Medicine and Research Center, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail. sowali@kau.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Siraj O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Wali
authors.forename: Bahaa A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Abaalkhail
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012913:Snoring / Q000453:epidemiology*