title: How Do Sleep-Related Health Problems Affect Functional Status According to Sex?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure differences in functional status between men and women presenting with sleep-related health problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective clinical audit of 744 Australian patients across 7 private general practices between April 2013 and January 2015 was conducted. Patients completed an electronic survey as part of their routine consultation, which included the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire 10 (FOSQ-10), and other questions relating to the effect of their sleep problem. The proportion of males and females with ESS and FOSQ-10 scores associated with disorders of daytime sleepiness and burden of symptoms due to sleepiness, respectively, were compared, as well as reported differences between the sexes in memory, concentration, issues with relationships, feeling depressed, and trouble sleeping.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On presentation, females were more likely to have sleeping disorders associated with daytime sleepiness (median ESS score of 9 for females versus 8 for males,P= .038; proportion ESS > 9 was 49.0% for females versus 36.9% for males,P= .003). Women were also more likely to report an increased burden of symptoms due to sleepiness compared to men, as shown by lower FOSQ-10 scores (P< .001). Secondary outcome measures showed that females were more likely to feel excessively tired and depressed, have difficulties with memory and concentration, and have trouble sleeping at night. Snoring kept partners awake in roughly the same proportion of males and females, and a larger proportion of the partners of males were forced out of the room.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sleep-related health issues both manifest in and affect the lives of males and females differently. Sleep health professionals should recognize these differences on all levels of disease prevention and health promotion from patient education, to diagnosis and management to improve quality of life for those with sleep-related health problems.
authors.affiliation: The SleepGP, Coolangatta, Australia Study.
authors.forename: Allegra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boccabella
authors.affiliation: The SleepGP, Coolangatta, Australia Study.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malouf
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001315:Australia; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: ESS; FOSQ-10; functional outcomes; obstructive sleep apnea; sex differences; sleep health