Clinical characteristics and polysomnography in female patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Objective:To realize the characteristics of clinical symptoms and polysomnography(PSG)in female patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS).Method:The clinical presentations and polysomnography findings were compared between465 males and 60 females with OSAHS.Results:Female OSAHS patients were older in average than male(t=4.79,P=0.000).Clinical presentations including apnea and daytime sleepiness complaint as well as nasalobstructive disorder and tongue base hypertrophy were much lower in female than male(P=0.0001,0.000,0.043,0.011,respectively).Female patients noted headaches on awakening more commonly than male patients(P=0.004).Female patient had a lower apnea hypopnea index(AHI),apnea index(AI),lowest SO2,micro-arousal index than male(t= 7.16,7.95,5.09,7.5,respectively,P= 0.000,respectively).In addition,the apnea hypopnea events happened in non-rapid eye movement in women were significantly lower than those in men(t=7.28,P=0.000),but the apnea hypopnea events happened in rapid eye movement in women were similar in female and male patients.Conclusion:Female OSAHS patients are older and lighter than male patients.The difference of the two gender about apnea hypopnea events mainly happen in non-rapid eye movement sleep.Gender disparity should be taken into account in current clinical evaluation.