[A statistical study of the blood pressure in snoring population of Guangxi]

To study the prevalence of snoring, the blood pressure in the snoring population and the correlating between hypertension and snoring in Guangxi.

From January 2003 to March 2005, people older than 14 from the south, central and north Guangxi were studied for the prevalence of snoring. A questionnaire was administered, and the blood pressure, height and weight of the participants were measured.

A total of 2862 families, 11 163 persons (aged 14 - 99 years, mean, 39.6 +/- 17.5 years) were surveyed. The prevalence of snoring was 27.3% (2940/10 758). The systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure of the non-snoring were 122.73 +/- 21.71 mm Hg and 75.68 +/- 13.17 mm Hg respectively. The systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure of the snoring were 128.23 +/- 30.85 mm Hg and 79.27 +/- 12.42 mm Hg respectively. The prevalence of hypertension of the two groups was 19.9% and 32.1% respectively. With the increase of age, there was an increasing tendency of snoring rate (tendency chi(2) = 592.613, P = 0.000) and hypertension rate (tendency chi(2) = 1868.277, P = 0.000). The hypertension incidence of the occasional snorers, habitual snorers, mild snorers, moderate snorers, and severe snorers and persons who suffered from sleep apnea was 27.6%, 37.4%, 27.5%, 31.1%, 37.4% and 44.1% respectively. Multiple logistic regression models showed that the risk factors for hypertension were snoring, age, body mass index (BMI), nationality and alcohol consumption. The partial correlation analysis showed that snoring was positively correlated to the diastolic blood pressure but not correlated to the systolic blood pressure. The severity of snoring was positively correlated to both the diastolic and the systolic blood pressures.

The prevalence of snoring was 27.3% in Guangxi. The systolic blood pressure, the diastolic blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension in snoring subjects were higher than those in non-snoring subjects. The prevalence of hypertension increased with increased severity of snoring. The severity of snoring was positively correlated to the diastolic and the systolic blood pressures. Snoring, age, BMI and alcohol consumption were the risk factors for hypertension.