Snoring Symptoms and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk Factors Identified by Doctors of Dental Medicine

To examine the association between snoring, a primary symptom of obstructive sleeps apnea (OSA) and patients' age, sex, and anthropometric characteristics. The goal is to support dental medicine doctors in identifying individuals at increased risk of OSA.

This retrospective cross-sectional clinical study included 795 participants. Data were collected on age, sex, and anthropometric measurements. Participants also completed the STOP questionnaire and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Overnight polysomnography was performed at the Clinical Hospital Center Split and the University of Split School of Medicine between 2018 and 2023.

Participants who reported snoring were significantly heavier (96.5 ± 20.5 kg vs. 84.6 ± 19.3 kg) and had a higher BMI (31.3 ± 10.9 kg/m² vs. 27.2 ± 5.1 kg/m²) than those without snoring. They also had larger neck (41.5 ± 6.0 cm vs. 38.8 ± 4.5 cm), waist (107.8 ± 15.4 cm vs. 96.9 ± 15.4 cm), and hip (110.7 ± 12.3 cm vs. 106.0 ± 11.0 cm) circumferences (P < 0.001 for all). These participants also reported greater daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale: 7.8 ± 4.9 vs. 5.9 ± 4.2; P < 0.001) and had significantly higher AHI values (32.8 ± 26.1 vs. 15.1 ± 17.5; P < 0.001), indicating more severe OSA.

Snoring is significantly associated with higher body mass, increased BMI, larger body circumferences, greater daytime sleepiness, and more severe OSA. It may serve as a useful clinical marker for dentists when identifying patients at elevated risk for OSA. Among the examined variables, BMI, AHI, and age were significant predictors of snoring, while sex did not show a statistically significant influence.