Previous Section
Introduction to Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Epidemiology of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
It has been estimated that approximately 5% of adults in Western cultures suffer with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Data from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort study suggested that the prevalence of OSAS was twice as high in men (4%) as compared to women (2%). The reasons for these differences, however, is not clear. The prevalence of OSAS appears to be the similar between Caucasians and African Americans.
It is important to note, however, that estimates regarding the prevalence of OSAS vary widely in the medical literature primarily because the disease is estimated to be undiagnosed in up to 75% of patients. The actual prevalence of OSAS in the general population is, therefore, considerably higher than the numbers generally reported in the medical literature.
