Gender and the systemic hypertension-snoring association: a questionnaire-based case-control study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Sleep Medicine
• Gender Studies

Background:

• The relationship between hypertension (high blood pressure) and snoring is complex.
• The specific role of gender in this association, considering confounding factors like age and BMI, remains largely unknown.
• Understanding gender-specific patterns is crucial for comprehensive hypertension and sleep apnea management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of gender on the association between hypertension and snoring.
• To analyze snoring prevalence and severity in hypertensive versus normotensive individuals, stratified by gender.
• To account for age and body mass index (BMI) as potential confounding variables.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire assessing snoring was administered to 180 subjects.
• Participants included 90 hypertensive (HT) and 90 normotensive (NT) individuals, matched for gender, age, and BMI.
• Subjects were further divided into male and female cohorts (45 each per group).

Main Results:

• Snoring was more prevalent in men than women overall.
• No significant difference in snoring was observed between hypertensive and normotensive men, regardless of age.
• Hypertensive women reported heavy snoring more frequently than normotensive women. Habitual snoring was higher in younger HT women, while heavy snoring was more common in older HT women.

Conclusions:

• Gender significantly modulates the association between hypertension and snoring.
• In men, snoring appears linked to age and BMI, independent of hypertension status.
• In women, hypertension is associated with a different and potentially more severe snoring profile, suggesting gender-specific mechanisms.