Study of the prevalence of sleep apnea syndrome's symptoms in a Moroccan population

Sleep apnea syndrome is increasingly common in the general population and is under-diagnosed but we lack studies on the estimation of its specific prevalence in several populations including Morocco.

The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of the main clinical symptoms of sleep apnea syndrome including snoring, witnessed apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness in a middle aged Moroccan population through an epidemiological investigation in 288 men and 215 women, aged between 21 to 66 years who completed two self-questionnaires: the Berlin questionnaire to assess sleep and the Epworth scale to assess daytime sleepiness.

The mean age was 42.7 years ± 14.3. The Epworth Sleepiness Scale was on average 6.9 ± 3.4 (range: 1-16). It was above 10 in 21.7% in favor of excessive daytime sleepiness. The prevalence of snoring and apnea was respectively 54.7% and 11.1% in the general population, 63.9% and 13.9% in men, 42.3% and 7.4% in women. Forty eight subjects (9.5%) including 13 women and 35 men had the combination of these three main clinical signs suggestive of sleep apnea syndrome. This subpopulation was older (p= 0.04) and with more overweight (p= 0.03) than the general population. Hypertension rate was not statistically higher in this subgroup.

Prevalence of the main symptoms of sleep apnea syndrome is high in our study (9.5%). Polygraphy or polysomnography is warranted to diagnose and have an exact prevalence in the Moroccan population.