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. 2016;3(6):1064.
Epub 2016 Aug 25.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Women's Perspective

Shazia Jehan  1 , Evan Auguste  1 , Ferdinand Zizi  1 , Seithikurippu R Pandi-Perumal  2 , Ravi Gupta  3 , Hrayr Attarian  4 , Giradin Jean-Louis  1 , Samy I McFarlane  5
Affiliations

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Women's Perspective

Shazia Jehan et al. J Sleep Med Disord. 2016.

Abstract

The main characteristics of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) are airflow limitation, chronic intermittent hypoxia, or apnea; which may lead to tissue hypoperfusion and recurrent arousal from sleep. These episodes of hypoxia or apnea can lead to tissue inflammation, and are causal factors of disturbed sleep in both men and women. Several lines of evidence suggest that sleep patterns differ along the lifespan in both male and female subjects, and this may result from the influence of female gonadotropic hormones on sleep. Compared to men, women have more sleep complaints, as women's sleep is not only influenced by gonadotropins, but also by conditions related to these hormones, such as pregnancy. It is therefore not surprising that sleep disturbances are seen during menopause, too. Factors that may play a role in this type of SDB in women include vasomotor symptoms, changing reproductive hormone levels, circadian rhythm abnormalities, mood disorders, coexistent medical conditions, and lifestyle factors.

Keywords: CPAP; CVD; Cardiovascular; Estrogen; Gender; Hormones; Melatonin; Menopause; OSA; Obstructive sleep apnea; Perimenopause; Postmenopause; Premenopause; Progesterone; SDB; Sleep-disordered breathing; Women.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT The authors have read the journal’s policy and have the following potential conflicts: This study was not an industry-supported study. S.R. Pandi-Perumal is a stockholder and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Somnogen Canada Inc., a Canadian Corporation. This does not alter his adherence to all of the journal policies. He declares that he has no competing interests that might be perceived to influence the content of this article. All remaining authors declare that they have no proprietary, financial, professional, nor any other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product or services and/or company that could be construed or considered to be a potential conflict of interest that might have influenced the views expressed in this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
9% to 28% of women and 24% to 26% of males having apneic events in general population.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Consequences of sleep apnea/hypoxia in endothelial damage.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Sleep disordered breathing and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Sleep in Premenopause, Perimenopause, and Postmenopause.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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