Prevalence of Sleep-disordered Breathing and Sleep Apnea in Middle-aged Urban Indian Men

Abstract

No data are available on the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in Indians. We conducted a two-phase cross-sectional prevalence study for the same in healthy urban Indian males (35-65 years) coming to our hospital in Bombay for a routine health check. We also investigated its risk factors and evaluated the significance of the most commonly asked questions that best correlated with the presence of OSAHS. In the first phase, 658 subjects (94%) returned completed questionnaires regarding their sleep habits and associated medical conditions. In the second phase, 250 of these underwent an overnight home sleep study. The estimated prevalence of SDB (apnea-hypopnea index of 5 or more) was 19.5%, and that of OSAHS (SDB with daytime hypersomnolence) was 7.5%. Multiple stepwise logistic regression determined body mass index, neck girth, and history of diabetes mellitus as the principal covariates of SDB. The presence of snoring, nocturnal choking, unrefreshing sleep, recurrent awakening from sleep, daytime hypersomnolence, and daytime fatigue was each statistically significant for identifying patients with OSAHS. The higher prevalence of OSAHS in urban Indian men is striking and may have major public health implications in a developing country.

Hypertension and catecholamine levels in sleep apnoea

“…Udwadia and colleagues demonstrated in their study that although an association of SDB with hypertension was significant, multiple logistic regression analysis did not select hypertension as a principle covariate. 25 However, a high prevalence of hypertension in sleep apnoea has been unequivocally demonstrated in the present study as well as other studies [19][20][21] and emphasises the role of early diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnoea patients as well as the importance of evaluating all the newly diagnosed sleep apnoeic patients for hypertension.…”

Sleep and Cardiovascular Disorders

“…This signifies that approximately 5 -10 million Americans are affected. In India Udwadia et al 12 reported that the estimated prevalence of sleep disordered breathing was 19.5% and that of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome ( SDB and daytime hypersomnolence) was 7.5%. Further, snoring can be observed when a group of subjects are sleep together as for example in railway sleeper coaches .…”

Monitorização portátil no diagnóstico da apneia obstrutiva do sono: situação atual, vantagens e limitações

“…(10) The definition of OSAS is an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) above five events per hour of sleep, together with excessive daytime sleepiness. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10) A recent epidemiological study conducted in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, (11) showed a high prevalence of OSAS in the adult population (32.8%). (12) In that study, OSAS was defined according to the criteria of the most recent International Classification of Sleep Disorders, published by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) in 2005, (13) which state that a diagnosis of OSAS can be confirmed if the subject has an AHI of 5.0-14.9 events per hour of sleep and presents with at least one of the following complaints: loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, and fatigue.…”

“…Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a highly prevalent condition that is observed in 1.2% to 7.5% of the general population, (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) mostly in adults and primarily in obese males. (10) The definition of OSAS is an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) above five events per hour of sleep, together with excessive daytime sleepiness.…”