Gender difference in snoring and how it changes with age: systematic review and meta-regression

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Snoring is a common phenomenon with varying prevalence across populations.
• Understanding gender-specific patterns and influencing factors is crucial for public health.
• Previous research indicates potential differences in snoring between males and females.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the interplay between age, gender, and snoring across diverse age groups.
• To quantify the gender disparity in snoring prevalence.
• To identify age as a potential modifier in the gender-snoring relationship.

Main Methods:

• A meta-analysis of cross-sectional studies reporting gender-specific snoring prevalence.
• Studies published from 1966 to July 2008 were included.
• Meta-regression was employed to explore sources of heterogeneity, specifically the role of age.

Main Results:

• Analysis included 63 studies comprising 104,337 males and 110,474 females.
• A significant male predominance in snoring was observed (odds ratio: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.75-2.03).
• Meta-regression confirmed age as a significant effect modifier on the gender-snoring relationship.

Conclusions:

• A consistent male predominance in snoring exists in the general population.
• Age plays a role in explaining the observed heterogeneity in snoring risk between genders.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering age in the context of gender and snoring prevalence.