Abstract
Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea is remarkably prevalent in
the community. Less well characterised is the community prevalence
of snoring, which is a significant problem for partners of habitual loud
snorers, and a frequent source of referrals to specialist sleep and
ENT services. The aim of this study was to examine the community
prevalence of partner-reported habitual loud snoring.
Methods: The study was part of the 2015 South Australian Health
Omnibus survey, using random stratified sampling and face-to-face
interviews to assess health characteristics in South Australians aged
15 years and over. In addition to demographic data, survey respondents
were asked about snoring and, if they had a bed partner or
room-mate, to complete the Snoring Scale Score (SSS), a 0–9 point
scale assessing the frequency (nights per week), duration (within
night) and loudness of their partner’s snoring. A snoring scale score
of ≥6 reflects partner snoring on every/most nights, all or most of
each night, with loud/very loud snoring audible from another room
through a closed door. Prevalence estimates (95% CI) were
weighted to reflect ABS Estimated Resident Population figures
according to age and gender.
Results: There were 3005 participants. 49.2% (46.5–51.9%) of
males vs. 28.4% (26.0–30.8%) of females ≥20 years self-reported
that their own snoring had ever bothered others. 73.9% (71.6–
76.2%) of responders aged 30–59 reported having a bed-partner/
room-mate. Females reported habitual loud snoring (SSS ≥ 6) in
their partner more frequently than did males (Figure), particularly in
30–59 year age groups: 27.4% (23.5–31.2%) vs. 5.7% (3.7–7.7%)
respectively.
Conclusion: Habitual loud/very loud snoring is a remarkably
common problem, particularly for females aged 30–59.
the community. Less well characterised is the community prevalence
of snoring, which is a significant problem for partners of habitual loud
snorers, and a frequent source of referrals to specialist sleep and
ENT services. The aim of this study was to examine the community
prevalence of partner-reported habitual loud snoring.
Methods: The study was part of the 2015 South Australian Health
Omnibus survey, using random stratified sampling and face-to-face
interviews to assess health characteristics in South Australians aged
15 years and over. In addition to demographic data, survey respondents
were asked about snoring and, if they had a bed partner or
room-mate, to complete the Snoring Scale Score (SSS), a 0–9 point
scale assessing the frequency (nights per week), duration (within
night) and loudness of their partner’s snoring. A snoring scale score
of ≥6 reflects partner snoring on every/most nights, all or most of
each night, with loud/very loud snoring audible from another room
through a closed door. Prevalence estimates (95% CI) were
weighted to reflect ABS Estimated Resident Population figures
according to age and gender.
Results: There were 3005 participants. 49.2% (46.5–51.9%) of
males vs. 28.4% (26.0–30.8%) of females ≥20 years self-reported
that their own snoring had ever bothered others. 73.9% (71.6–
76.2%) of responders aged 30–59 reported having a bed-partner/
room-mate. Females reported habitual loud snoring (SSS ≥ 6) in
their partner more frequently than did males (Figure), particularly in
30–59 year age groups: 27.4% (23.5–31.2%) vs. 5.7% (3.7–7.7%)
respectively.
Conclusion: Habitual loud/very loud snoring is a remarkably
common problem, particularly for females aged 30–59.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 150 |
| Pages (from-to) | 55-56 |
| Journal | Journal of Sleep Research |
| Volume | 25 |
| Issue number | S2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2016 |
| Event | Connections - Sleep Science and Research: 28th ASM of Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association - Adelaide Convention Centre, Adelaide, Australia Duration: 20 Oct 2016 → 22 Oct 2016 https://sleep.org.au/Public/Events/F-Past-Conferences/F-Sleep-DownUnder/Sleep-DownUnder-2016.aspx (Conference website) |