Sex differences among sleep disordered breathing, obesity, and metabolic comorbidities; the Nagahama study

Although sex differences in the prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is recognized, whether a sex difference exists among obese individuals with SDB with or without comorbidities has not been well investigated. This study aimed to explore the relationships of sex differences among SDB, obesity, and metabolic comorbidities.

This study evaluated 7713 community participants with nocturnal oximetry ≥2 nights. SDB was assessed by the 3% oxygen desaturation index corrected for sleep duration obtained by wrist actigraphy (Acti-ODI3%), and moderate-to-severe SDB was defined as Acti-ODI3% levels ≥15/h. Obesity was defined as body mass index ≥25 kg/m².

The prevalence of moderate-to-severe SDB was 21.6%/0% among those with obesity/without obesity in women under 40 years old. The adjusted odds ratios for moderate-to-severe SDB in those with both diabetes/metabolic syndrome and obesity compared to others were 86.4 (95%CI 24.2-308.8)/40.4 (95%CI 15.0-108.8) in pre-menopausal women. The association among SDB, obesity, and metabolic comorbidities showed significant interactions between pre-menopausal women and men or post-menopausal women.

Sex differences exist among the prevalence of SDB and the relationships among SDB, obesity, and metabolic comorbidities. Especially, pre-menopausal women are more vulnerable to the consequences of obesity. SDB prevalence may be impacted by the coexistence of obesity and diabetes or metabolic syndrome in pre-menopausal women.