Gender differences in polysomnographic findings in Egyptian patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

AimAim of the present study was to examine the influence of gender on degree of severity of obstructive sleep apnea.Patients and methodsThis retrospective study included 97 patients diagnosed with OSA by overnight polysomnography, who were referred to the Chest Department, Kasr Al Aini Hospital sleep laboratory during the study period from January 2013 to December 2015.ResultsThere were 60 males (61.9%) and 37 females (38.1%) with a male to female ratio of 1.6:1. BMI was greater in females than males (44.62 ± 9.23 versus 39.74 ± 7.92; p = 0.007). AHI was greater in males than females (27.29 ± 20.85 versus 14.28 ± 8.76; p < 0.001). Desaturation index was also greater in males than females (42.24 ± 26.95 versus 29.46 ± 23; p = 0.012). Desaturation index increased with increasing BMI with a statistical significant difference (p = 0.011).ConclusionIn Egyptian patients with OSA, although females had higher BMI as compared to males, males had more severe disease as indexed by AHI.