Leisure-time physical activity predicts complaints of snoring in women: a prospective cohort study over 10 years

• Low level of self-reported physical activity is a risk factor for future habitual snoring complaints.
• Increased physical activity can modify the risk.
• Physical activity promotion may be an important strategy to reduce future snoring.

ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the impact of self-reported physical activity on incidence and remission of snoring complaints in women.MethodsA population-based sample of 4851 women aged >20 years responded to questionnaires in years 2000 and 2010. Based on the responses, the women were categorized into low, medium, or high level of physical activity at baseline and at follow-up.ResultsThe prevalence of habitual snoring complaints increased from 7.6% at baseline to 9.2% in 2010 (P < .0001). After adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), waist and neck circumference, weight gain, smoking status, alcohol dependence, and snoring status at baseline, reported physical activity level at baseline had a protective effect on habitual snoring complaints at follow-up. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence intervals) for complaints of habitual snoring was 0.7 (0.5–0.9) for the reported medium physical activity level and 0.5 (0.4–0.8) for the high activity level. When subdividing the population by changes in reported physical activity level over the follow-up period, an increase in physical activity was followed by a decrease in the complaint of snoring. Similarly a high level of reported physical activity only had a protective effect on snoring in participants who remained at a high or medium level.ConclusionsA low level of self-reported physical activity is a risk factor for future habitual snoring complaints in women, independent of weight, weight gain, alcohol dependence, and smoking. Increased physical activity can modify the risk.