TABLE 3-1Risk Factors for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Risk Factor Reference
Obesity and BMI greater than 25 kg/m2Grunstein et al., 1993
Male genderStrohl and Redline, 1996; Kapsimalis and Kryger, 2002; Shepertycky et al., 2005
Familial associationGuilleminault et al., 1995; Pillar and Lavie, 1995; Redline et al., 1995; Buxbaum et al., 2002
Alcohol consumptionTaasan et al., 1981
Cranial facial structureFerguson et al., 1995
      High and narrow hard palate, elongated soft palate, small chin, and abnormal overjet
Enlargement of the tonsilsBehlfelt, 1990
Lesions of the autonomic nervous systemMondini and Guilleminault, 1985; Rosen et al., 2003
Race: African Americans, Mexican Americans, Pacific Islanders, and East AsiansSchmidt-Nowara et al., 1990; Redline et al., 1997; Li et al., 2000

From: 3, Extent and Health Consequences of Chronic Sleep Loss and Sleep Disorders

Cover of Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation: An Unmet Public Health Problem.
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Sleep Medicine and Research; Colten HR, Altevogt BM, editors.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2006.
Copyright © 2006, National Academy of Sciences.

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