Sleep apnea risk factors
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Kashish Goel, M.D.
Overview
Sleep apneaoccurs more frequently among adults over 60 years, overweight males with a large neck circumference, and individuals with a positive family history. There is also an increased risk among African Americans, and those who smoke, drink alcohol, and ingest sedatives or tranquilizers.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) include:
- Obesity is the best documented risk factor for OSA
- Fat deposits around the soft tissues of the upper airway may obstruct breathing
- The prevalence of OSA progressively increases as the body mass index and associated markers (neck circumference, waist-to-hip ratio) increase
- Sleep apnea occurs significantly in adults older than 60[2]
- Male gender
- Men are more likely to suffer sleep apnea than women and children are, though it is not uncommon in the last two population groups
- Narrowed airway
- This may be inherited, or due to an enlarged adenoids or enlarged tonsils which may block the airway
- Neck circumference
- Individuals with a thicker neck may have a narrower airway
- A positive family history may have a higher risk of developing sleep apnea
- African American men younger than 39 years and between 50 and 59 years have a higher rate of sleep apnea compared to Caucasian men of the same ages[4] w
- Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers
- These substances relax the muscles in the throat
- Smokers are three times more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea than are people who have never smoked.
- Smoking may increase the amount of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway
- A deviated septum, allergies, or chronic nasal congestion
- Due to a nasal obstruction
- Craniofacial and upper-airway structure
- Skeletal or soft tissue abnormalities including dysmorphisms
- Diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and stroke[6]
- Due to common risk factors to all these conditions and sleep apnea
Risk factors for central sleep apnea include:
- Male gender
- Age
- Adults older than age 65
- Due to other medical conditions or sleep patterns that are more likely to cause central sleep apnea
- Cardiac disorderssuch as atrial fibrillation or congestive heart failure
- High altitude
- Chronic opioid use
- Stroke or brain tumor
- These brain conditions can impair the brain's ability to regulate breathing
- Continuouspositive airway pressure (CPAP)
- Some people with obstructive sleep apnea develop central sleep apnea while using CPAP
- This is known as complex sleep apnea because it is a combination of obstructive and central sleep apneas
References
- ↑ Young, T.; Skatrud, J.; Peppard, PE. (2004). "Risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea in adults". JAMA. 291 (16): 2013–6. doi:10.1001/jama.291.16.2013. PMID 15113821. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ "Sleep apnea: Risk factors - MayoClinic.com". Retrieved 12 August 2013.
- ↑ "Sleep Apnea: Who Is At Risk for Sleep Apnea?". NHLBI: Health Information for the Public. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- ↑ Pranathiageswaran, S.; Badr, MS.; Severson, R.; Rowley, JA. (2013). "The influence of race on the severity of sleep disordered breathing". J Clin Sleep Med. 9 (4): 303–9. doi:10.5664/jcsm.2572. PMID 23585743. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ "Sleep apnea: Risk factors - MayoClinic.com". Retrieved 12 August 2013.
- ↑ Young, Terry (2004). "Risk Factors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults". JAMA. 291 (16): 2013. doi:10.1001/jama.291.16.2013. ISSN 0098-7484.