title: Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Adolescents and Younger Adults: A Representative Population-Based Survey in Chile.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prevalence and potential risk contributors of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in adolescents and younger adults remain unclear. We hypothesized that SDB prevalence in younger Hispanic adults is higher than the limited evidence indicates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a population-based study of Hispanic subjects surveyed as part of the Chilean National Health Survey database. For this study, only subjects aged 15 to 40 years were included. Sleep and demographic questionnaires were used to assess SDB prevalence and its risk factors. Anthropometric measurements were performed in each subject. Prevalence was calculated for each SDB-related symptom. A regression model was constructed to investigate demographic risk factors of SDB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2,147 subjects were included. Mean age (± SD) was 27.2 ± 7.2 years, n = 899 (42%) were men. Habitual snoring was highly prevalent, with an average of 53.8% in men and 38.3% in women. Snoring, witnessed apneas, and daytime somnolence increased continuously with age, with an abnormal SDB questionnaire score detected in 2.5%. Reported sleep duration was 7.61 ± 1.67 hours during weekdays and 8.27 ± 2.11 hours during weekends. Snoring frequency was significantly higher in men than women at nearly all age groups, and an adjusted regression model (OR [95% CI]) identified male sex (2 [1.6-2.5]; P < .001) and BMI (1.08 [1.03-1.12]; P < .001) as independent risk factors for snoring.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of SDB is highly prevalent in younger adults, even in females, and increases with age and BMI. The high prevalence and low awareness justify active screening and treatment of SDB in this population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Pulmonology, Division of Pediatrics and Sleep Medicine Center, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: pbrockmann@med.puc.cl.
authors.forename: Pablo E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Brockmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology and Pulmonology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Damiani
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Pritzker School of Medicine, Biological Sciences Division, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gozal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009929:Organ Size; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: apnea; obesity; population; prevalence; risk factors; sleep; snoring