Waist-to-height ratio and waist circumference as the main measures to evaluate obstructive sleep apnea in the woman's reproductive life stages

Author(s)

Polesel, Daniel Ninello ^[1] ; Nozoe, Karen Tieme ^[1] ; Bittencourt, Lia ^[1] ; Tufik, Sergio ^[1] ; Andersen, Monica Levy ^[1] ; Fernandes, Maria T. B. ^[2] ; Hachul, Helena ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Psicobiol, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Pediat, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: WOMEN & HEALTH; v. 61, n. 3 JAN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent sleep disorder. In women, the frequency of OSA increases substantially during and after the menopause, as does the prevalence of obesity in this reproductive life stage. This cross-sectional study uses data from the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study (EPISONO, 2007), and comprises a sample of 500 women aged 20-80 years. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the factors associated with OSA in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. All participants underwent polysomnography, and obesity was assessed using the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body mass index, neck and waist circumference, measured using standard methods. WHtR was the factor most associated with a significant increase in risk of OSA in premenopausal women. Waist circumference was the factor most associated with OSA in postmenopausal women, for all severities of the disease. Anthropometric factors presented a high rate of accuracy in the classification of women with OSA. The study found that different obesity-related anthropometric measures should be considered in the diagnosis of OSA, according to the woman's reproductive stage. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/14945-7 - Identification of the main associated factors with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in women
• Grantee: Daniel Ninello Polesel
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate