Abstract
Background. Decreased production of female hormones might explain the increased prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing in postmenopausal women. Objectives. We evaluated, whether menopause has an impact on the manifestation of sleep-disordered breathing in terms of signs, symptoms, and breathing pattern. Methods. The study was a cross-sectional study utilizing a patient database, hospital records, sleep studies, and questionnaires. The hospital records and sleep studies were reviewed in 601 consecutive women studied between 1994 and 1998 in a university hospital pulmonary clinic. The records were completed with questionnaires. Results. Nocturnal breathing abnormalities covered a greater proportion of the night in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women (68.1% versus 35.8% of time in bed, p<0.0001), and the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing tended to be higher (86.2% versus 79.4% of time in bed, p=0.057). The body mass indices and the major symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing were similar in pre- and postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women had less nasal congestion (p<0.001) than premenopausal ones. Body mass index was a significant explanatory factor of daytime sleepiness. Conclusions. Post- and premenopausal women present with similar signs and symptoms when referred to sleep studies. However, sleep-disordered breathing is more severe in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women.
| Acronyms | ||
| AHI | = | apnea–hypopnea index |
| AHIest | = | estimated apnea–hypopnea index |
| BMI | = | body mass index (kg/m2) |
| EDS | = | excessive daytime sleepiness |
| FEV1 | = | forced expiratory volume in one second (l/min) |
| FEV% | = | FEV1 as percentage of predicted |
| FVC | = | forced vital capacity (l/min) |
| FVC% | = | FVC as percentage of predicted |
| HT | = | hormone therapy |
| IRR | = | increased respiratory resistance pattern |
| ODI4 | = | the oxygen desaturation events of 4%-unit or more |
| OP-1 | = | obstructive periodic breathing pattern 1 |
| OP-2 | = | obstructive periodic breathing pattern 2 |
| OP-3 | = | obstructive periodic breathing pattern 3 |
| PCOS | = | polycystic ovary syndrome |
| P-1 | = | periodic breathing pattern |
| SCSB | = | static-charge-sensitive bed |
| SDB | = | sleep-disordered breathing |
| TIB | = | time in bed |
| Acronyms | ||
| AHI | = | apnea–hypopnea index |
| AHIest | = | estimated apnea–hypopnea index |
| BMI | = | body mass index (kg/m2) |
| EDS | = | excessive daytime sleepiness |
| FEV1 | = | forced expiratory volume in one second (l/min) |
| FEV% | = | FEV1 as percentage of predicted |
| FVC | = | forced vital capacity (l/min) |
| FVC% | = | FVC as percentage of predicted |
| HT | = | hormone therapy |
| IRR | = | increased respiratory resistance pattern |
| ODI4 | = | the oxygen desaturation events of 4%-unit or more |
| OP-1 | = | obstructive periodic breathing pattern 1 |
| OP-2 | = | obstructive periodic breathing pattern 2 |
| OP-3 | = | obstructive periodic breathing pattern 3 |
| PCOS | = | polycystic ovary syndrome |
| P-1 | = | periodic breathing pattern |
| SCSB | = | static-charge-sensitive bed |
| SDB | = | sleep-disordered breathing |
| TIB | = | time in bed |