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. 2025 Aug 11;29(5):271.
doi: 10.1007/s11325-025-03436-7.

Community awareness of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Saudi Arabia

Kareemah Salem Alshurtan  1 , Sarrah Yousef Aldhaifi  2 , Siwar Awad Alamrani  2
Affiliations

Community awareness of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): Saudi Arabia

Kareemah Salem Alshurtan et al. Sleep Breath. .

Abstract

Purpose: OSA is a potentially serious medical condition associated with metabolic and cardiovascular hazards. The Saudi population remains inadequately informed, despite its increasing prevalence. The purpose of this study is to evaluate Saudi Arabian public awareness about OSA.

Methods: 992 people from all around Saudi Arabia participated in a descriptive cross-sectional study using a validated online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the demographic, health, and OSA knowledge data, and Pearson's Chi-Square test was used to look for correlations with the demographic characteristics.

Results: The survey indicated that just 39% of participants were aware of OSA. Age, geographic location, healthcare profession, and familial medical history shown significant correlations with awareness (p < 0.05). The signs, ramifications, and therapies of OSA were inadequately comprehended.

Conclusion: The research indicated that 39% of Saudi Arabians lacked enough knowledge of OSA. Targeted programs that focus on symptoms, dangers, and treatments are critical for improving early diagnosis and results. These efforts should focus specifically on marginalized populations and non-healthcare sectors.

Keywords: Knowledge; OSA awareness; Obstructive sleep apnea; Public health; Saudi Arabia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study was approved by the University of Hail’s Ethics Committee. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Respondents from different regions of Saudi Arabia
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Which signs and symptoms do you think are related to the disease?
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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