Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Comorbidities of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk Among a Working Population in Kuwait: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects a considerable proportion of adults globally and is associated with elevated morbidity and mortality. Given the lack of epidemiologic data on the burden of OSA in Kuwait, this study sought to estimate its prevalence, associated risk factors, and comorbid conditions among a working population in Kuwait.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of a sample of working adults (n = 651) from public institutions in Kuwait. High/low risk for OSA was ascertained according to the Berlin Questionnaire criteria. Participants self-reported their coexisting health conditions. Associations were assessed using Poisson regression with robust variance estimation; adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated.Results: Overall, 20.0% (130/651) of participants were classified as being at high risk for OSA, with more male than female subjects being at high risk (24.0% [56/233] vs. 17.7% [74/418], P = 0.053), though this difference did not gain statistical significance. Moreover, a high risk for OSA was more common among older and obese subjects. Factors associated with increased prevalence of a high risk for OSA included current smoking status (aPR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.02–2.06), longer hours spent watching television (1.76, 1.10–2.81), and lower self-perceived physical health (2.11, 1.15–3.87). However, decreasing trends in the prevalence of high risk for OSA were observed with frequent engagement in vigorous physical activity and longer nightly sleep duration. Compared to those at a low risk for OSA, the subjects at high risk for OSA were more likely to have insomnia disorder (2.83, 1.81–4.41), diabetes (1.94, 1.15–3.27), hypertension (3.00, 1.75–5.16), and depression (4.47, 1.80–11.08).Conclusion: This study estimated that 1/5 of working adults in Kuwait were at high risk for OSA, and the prevalence varied according to personal characteristics and lifestyle factors. Also, a high risk for OSA classification was associated with multiple comorbid health conditions.

Prevalence, Knowledge and Awareness of Obstructive sleep apnea among Egyptians attending outpatient clinics.

“…In our study, men showed slightly higher risk (18%) than women (16.75%) but with no statistical signi cance, in accordance with other population-based studies 16,17 . In fact, the gender disparity, demonstrated by some studies, tends to decline in older ages more than 60 years 33 or 50 years 16 .…”

“…Numerous studies were conducted to measure the prevalence in different countries using BQ and came with comparable results. In South Korea, nationwide screening showed a prevalence of 15.8% 16 , while a sample of the working population in Kuwait had 20% prevalence 17 . Another study compared between the US and European countries and found the risk prevalence to be 35.8% and 26.3% respectively 18 .…”

“…Obesity (de ned as BMI ≥ 30) was positively associated with OSA and considered as a risk factor [16][17][18] .…”

Association of healthy lifestyle with risk of obstructive sleep apnea: a cross-sectional study

“…Simpson et al found that low levels of occupational activity and leisure exercise were associated with moderate-severe OSA in a study with case–control design [ 9 ]. Several population-based studies have demonstrated alcoholics and smokers were more likely to have high-risk OSA [ 10 – 12 ]. A less healthy dietary profile with lower whole-grain intake and increased red/processed meat consumption was linked with moderate-to-more severe OSA, which were partially explained by reductions in slow-wave sleep, consequently leading to increased fragmented sleep and adiposity [ 13 ].…”

“Leaky Gut” as a Keystone of the Connection between Depression and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome? A Rationale and Study Design

“…Moreover, OSA is currently -regarded as an additional factor contributing to the pathogenesis of obesityrelated comorbidities [8]. Multiple comorbid conditions such as metabolic complications (e.g., obesity, cardiovascular risk factors, ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation, impaired lipid levels, insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)), insomnia, depression (up to 35% [9]) or accelerated aging are particularly prevalent in individuals with OSA [3,5,[10][11][12][13]. Among OSA patients there are those with extremely high prescription of antidepressants, anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives [3].…”