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.
