title: Comparison of Anthropometric Data Between Asian and Caucasian Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Meta-Analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is considered to be one of the most important risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but less is known about the role of ethnicity in OSA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interethnic difference of obesity-related phenotypes in OSA and to reveal the role of ethnicity in OSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched MEDLINE, LILACS, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library using the key words "sleep apnea," "body mass index," "neck circumference," "waist circumference," "waist to hip ratio," etc. Inclusion criteria were adults over 18 years of age, and studies that included polysomnography, obesity-related parameters, and a clear demarcation of ethnicity in the patient population. Included studies were reviewed by 2 independent reviewers. The following information was collected for controls and OSA: number, age, gender, country, ethnicity (Asian or Caucasian), study design, apnea-hypopnea index/respiratory disturbance index, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference (NC), waist circumference (WC), and/or waist to hip ratio (WHR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 8,312 publications were retrieved with a subsequent 19 manuscripts that met the selection criteria. A total of 2,966 patients were included for analysis. The main findings were as follows: There was no difference in BMI, WC, and WHR between patients with OSA and controls after accounting for publication bias; Patients with OSA have greater NC than controls (standard mean difference, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.63 to 1.14); and There was no difference in NC between Asian and Caucasians patients (P=0.178).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OSA might not be related with BMI, WC, and WHR. Only NC demonstrated a strong association with OSA, and this finding was not different between Asians and Caucasians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Konkuk University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seungho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Body Mass Index; Meta-Analysis; Obesity; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Waist-Hip Ratio