title: Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Comparison of Syndrome Severity and Risk Factors for Adult Jewish and Arab Males in Northern Israel.
abstract: Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common health problem with an estimated prevalence of 4% among men, many of whom are undiagnosed and untreated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare demographic characteristics, health profiles, risk factors, and disease severity in Arab and Jewish men with OSA syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study we retrospectively analyzed clinical data from the medical files of men ≥ 22 years old who were referred to the Rambam Medical Center sleep clinic during the period 2001-2009 with a suspected diagnosis of OSA. OSA severity was measured using the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test. Relations between OSA severity and a set of independent risk factors were assessed by linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 207 men were included (39 Arabs, 19%; 168 Jews, 81%). Arab participants were younger than their Jewish counterparts (45.5 ± 8.9 years vs. 49.8 ± 11.8, P = 0.04) and their body mass index (BMI) was higher (3.1 ± 5.1 vs. 30.0 ± 4.4, P = 0.001). OSA severity (AHI score) was higher among Arab men, with low, medium and high severity scores seen in 10%, 33% and 56% of Arab men vs. 35%, 29% and 37% of Jewish men, respectively [T(198) = 2.39, P = 0.02]. Mean blood oxygen saturation was comparable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arab men presenting for evaluation of sleep apnea harbored more severe OSA symptoms, were younger, and had higher BMI compared to Jewish men. Since OSA syndrome evolves for several years until it becomes severe, these findings suggest that Arab men seek medical assistance later than Jewish men with OSA.
authors.forename: Rafael S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Carel
authors.forename: Inna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brodsky
authors.forename: Giora
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pillar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018912:Arabs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007585:Jews / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology