Cross Sectional Study of the Community Self-Reported Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and Awareness in Thessaly, Greece

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the self-reported risk of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in the municipality of Thessaly, Greece, and the level of awareness of both the disease and its diagnosis. Inhabitants of Thessaly (254 total; 84 men and 170 women) were studied by means of questionnaires via a telephone-randomized survey. This comprised: (a) the Berlin questionnaire for evaluation of OSAS risk; (b) the evaluation of daytime sleepiness by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale; and (c) demographic and anthropometric data. The percentage of participants at high risk for OSA was 26.77%, and the percentage of people who were at high risk of excessive daytime sleepiness was 10.63%. High risk for OSAS was found to be 3.94%. No significant differences were found between high- and low-risk OSAS participants associated with age, smoking and severity of smoking. Regarding the knowledge of the community about OSAS, the majority of the sample was aware of the entity (64.17%), while fewer had knowledge about the diagnosis (18.50%) and polysomnography (24.80%). The high risk of OSA prevalence and the low awareness of the diagnosis of OSA highlights the need for the development of health promotion programs aiming at increasing the disease awareness in the general population in order to address OSA more effectively.

The Alonissos Study: Cross-Sectional Study of the Community Respiratory Health Status in a Greek Healthcare Access Underprivileged Island

“…The self-reported prevalence of OSA was found to be 27.09%, similar to what was found in two previous reports by our research group that were performed as telephone surveys and assessed self-reported OSA community prevalence [ 1 , 3 ]. The first study was performed in the insular population of 41 Greek islands (other than the Sporades insular complex) of the Aegean and Ionian Pelagos with a self-reported prevalence of 27.29%.…”

“…According to the latest study regarding smoking prevalence in Greece performed in 2020, 28% of the population are active smokers, so the numbers remain very high [ 17 ]. In Central Greece and Thessaly, the prevalence is even higher, ranging from 32.4 to 35.78% [ 1 , 3 , 18 ]. These numbers are very alarming since smoking is the cause of COPD, of which the burden in Greece is significant [ 19 ].…”

“…Additionally, there is a scarcity of epidemiologic data regarding these communities and very little is known about the health status of the inhabitants; thus, no focused health promotion strategies can be applied [ 2 ]. On the other hand, two recent studies by our research group highlighted the fact that insular smoking prevalence is substantially higher than the already-high national prevalence [ 1 , 3 ]. In the first study, the smoking prevalence among 700 participants among four Greek insular complexes (Ionian islands, Cyclades, Dodecanese, and Northeast Aegean) was 29.7% [ 1 ], and in the second study, the smoking prevalence among 50 participants of the insular complex of Sporades was 54% as compared to 35.78% among 204 participants of mainland Greece [ 3 ].…”

“…On the other hand, two recent studies by our research group highlighted the fact that insular smoking prevalence is substantially higher than the already-high national prevalence [ 1 , 3 ]. In the first study, the smoking prevalence among 700 participants among four Greek insular complexes (Ionian islands, Cyclades, Dodecanese, and Northeast Aegean) was 29.7% [ 1 ], and in the second study, the smoking prevalence among 50 participants of the insular complex of Sporades was 54% as compared to 35.78% among 204 participants of mainland Greece [ 3 ]. Furthermore, according to the 2021 Health at a Glance OECD Report, Greece ranks fifth in the prevalence of active smokers over the age of 15 with a percentage of 24.9%, which is much higher than the OECD average, which is 16% [ 4 ].…”

The Alonissos Study: Cross-Sectional Study of the Healthcare Access and User Satisfaction in the Community of a Non-Profit-Line Greek Island

“…This deters the establishment and application of population-specific health promotion strategies. Two recent studies by our research group highlighted the fact that insular smoking prevalence is substantially higher than the already-high national prevalence [ 9 , 10 ]. Moreover, in the recently published first report of the Alonissos Study, it was shown that there is a high prevalence of COPD and OSAS on Alonissos island, highlighting the need for primary healthcare awareness in this non-profit-line Greek island [ 1 ].…”