Prevalence and clinical impact of snoring in older community‐dwelling adults

Abstract

Aim The prevalence and clinical impact of snoring in the independent older adult population is unknown. To address this, we carried out this cross‐sectional epidemiological study of community‐dwelling independent older adults. Methods The study data were collected by the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study 2013, a postal survey distributed to a large cohort of independent community‐dwelling older adults (aged ≥65 years) in 2013, across 30 municipalities of 14 prefectures. We used data for 24 837 participants (13 135 women, mean age 73.5 years, and 11 702 men, mean age 73.3 years). The association of snoring with airway symptoms and history of hypertension, diabetes and heart disease were investigated using Poisson regression models. Results The prevalence ratio (95% confidence intervals) for wheezing according to snoring frequency in men was 1.87 (1.45–2.43) among those who snored on 1–6 nights a week, and 2.95 (2.15–4.05) among those who snored every night. Similar relationships were observed for women. Expectoration, another airway symptom, was also associated with snoring frequency. Furthermore, snoring frequency was associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Both diabetes and heart disease were associated with snoring frequency in women independent of body mass index, but the association was only observed in men with a normal or lower body mass index. Conclusions Snoring is a highly prevalent and pathogenic symptom in adults aged ≥65 years. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 1165–1171.

Association Between Snoring and Diabetes Among Pre- and Postmenopausal Women

“…In a study of Japanese seniors aged ≥65 years, it was discovered that women with elevated snoring frequency had a higher risk of diabetes, whereas this correlation was only seen in men without obesity. 22 The preceding study enrolled only older adults, whereas our study included individuals aged 30–79 years and found comparable results after age adjustment. Our analysis also controlled for abdominal obesity and body mass index in women, and the snoring-diabetes association remained strong.…”

Effects of a novel oral appliance on snoring in adults: A pilot study

“… 3 Snoring is associated with hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease in elderly patients. 4 Most research has noted an increasing trend of snoring among younger generations (aged 30–50 years) as well as older ones (aged >65 years). 5 , 6 , 7 …”