Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 159, Number 6, June 1999, 2024-2027

Evolution of Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Sleepy Snorers
A Population-based Prospective Study

EVA LINDBERG, AHMED ELMASRY, THORARINN GISLASON, CHRISTER JANSON, HARRIET BENGTSSON, JERKER HETTA, MARIKA NETTELBLADT, and GUNNAR BOMAN

Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, and Sleep Disorder Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Chest Diseases, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; and Department of Lung Medicine, Viffilsstadir Hospital, Gardabær, Iceland

This study followed a small number of men previously studied polysomnographically 10 yr earlier to investigate the relationship between the development of sleep-disordered breathing and age, weight gain, and smoking. In 1984, 3,201 men answered a questionnaire including questions about snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Of those reporting symptoms related to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), a random sample of 61 men was investigated using whole-night polysomnography in 1985. Ten years later, 38 men participated in the present follow-up, which included a structured interview and polysomnography. During the 10-yr period, nine men had been treated for OSAS. Of the 29 untreated subjects, the number of men with OSAS, defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of  5/h, increased from four in 1985 to 13 in 1995 (p < 0.01). In this small sample, no significant associations were found between AHI (i.e., AHI 1995  AHI 1985) and age, weight gain, or smoking. We conclude that, among this small group of individuals who were selected for original polysomnographic study and follow-up because they were thought to have symptoms of sleep apnea, sleep-disordered breathing became significantly worse over time.

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