Background:
Sex-related differences in the prevalence and clinical presentation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) have been widely documented. The aim of this study was
to investigate the influence of patients’ sex on polygraphic parameters with particular attention to
sleep autonomic changes in a population of OSAS patients.
Methods:
Sixty OSAS patients aged 55-65 years (30 men, 30 women) were enrolled. Sleep quality
was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and daytime sleepiness with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The presence of respiratory events and autonomic changes during
the night was investigated by polygraphy.
Results :
Similar main cardiovascular risk factors prevalence was observed in both men and women. We observed a significant difference in PSQI (higher in women, p=0.0001) and ESS (higher in
men, p=0.004) scores. Snoring (p=0.033), supine AHI (p=0.004), T90 (p=0.021), LO2 (p=0.0001),
LF/HF ratio and LF (p=0.0001) were significantly higher in men. Sex differences in PSQI mean
score and LF/HF ratio variability were preserved in all the subgroups of OSA severity.
Conclusion:
The influence of sex in modulating cardiovascular risk is a widely discussed topic. In
our study, men showed more severe polygraphic parameters and an increase in LF/HF ratio compared to women. The results of our investigation suggest the relevance of delivering information
about the different expressions of OSAS in men and women in order to improve diagnostic skills
and in-depth prevention approaches.
The differences in the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea severity and trabecular bone score in men and women with type 2 diabetes
