Sex differences in sleep disordered breathing in adults.
The prevalence of sleep disordered breathing is greater in men compared to women. This disparity could be due to sex differences in the diagnosis and presentation of sleep apnea, and the pathophysiological mechanisms that instigate this disorder. Women tend to report more non-typical symptoms of sleep apnea compared to men, and the presentation of apneic events are more prevalent in rapid compared to non-rapid eye movement sleep. In addition, there is evidence of sex differences in upper airway structure and mechanics and in neural mechanisms that impact on the control of breathing. The purpose of this review is to summarize the literature that addresses sex differences in sleep-disordered breathing, and to discuss the influence that upper airway mechanics, chemoreflex properties, and sex hormones have in modulating breathing during sleep in men and women.
John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
Tijana
T
Lozo
John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
Dragana
D
Komnenov
John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
M Safwan
MS
Badr
John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Department of Internal Medicine, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States. Electronic address: jmateika@med.wayne.edu.
Jason H
JH
Mateika
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology*
Chemoreflex properties; Estrogen; Prevalence of sleep disordered breathing; Progesterone; Respiratory plasticity; Testosterone