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 apnea occurs 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 disorders such 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
- Continuous positive 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.