Snoring among Postgraduate Students in a Tertiary Institution, Southwest Nigeria

Snoring, a symptom of disordered breathing during sleep, is increasingly becoming a major public health concern. A significant correlation has been found between snoring and cardiovascular diseases; unfortunately, it remains under-diagnosed in general population. This study sought to determine the prevalence of snoring, knowledge and perception of health risks associated with it among postgraduate students of a tertiary institution in Southwestern Nigeria. Using multi stage sampling technique, 300 postgraduate students of the University of Ibadan were selected. A self-administered questionnaire, was used to collected data on their socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge and perception of snoring, its health risks and snoring patterns. A 21-point, 12-point, 15-point and 12-point scales was used to measure knowledge of snoring, knowledge of its health risks, perception related to snoring and perception of its health risks respectively. Scores ≥15, ≥9, ≥9 and >6 were cut-offs for good knowledge of snoring, knowledge of its health risks, perception related to snoring and perception of its health risks, respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data at α0.05. Respondents age was 27.2±4.3 years and 53.3% were males. Knowledge of snoring was good among 53.3% of respondents, 13.3% had a good knowledge of health risks associated with snoring, 71% had good perception of snoring while 43% had good perception of health risks associated with snoring. Prevalence of snoring was 31.3% and was significantly higher among males (36.9%) than females (25.2%). The level of knowledge of health risks associated with snoring is inadequate indicating a need for increased awareness on health risks associated with snoring among adults in Nigeria

Association between monosodium glutamate intake and sleep-disordered breathing among Chinese adults with normal body weight

ObjectiveTo assess whether monosodium glutamate (MSG) intake is associated with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).MethodsData from 1227 Chinese subjects who participated in the Jiangsu Nutrition Study were analyzed. All the participants were examined at two time points (baseline in 2002 and follow-up in 2007). The MSG intake was assessed quantitatively in 2002 and a sleep questionnaire was used to assess snoring and to construct an SDB probability score in 2007. Those within the fifth quintile of the score (highest) were defined as having a high probability of SDB.ResultsThe MSG intake was positively associated with snoring and a high probability of SDB in participants who had a normal body weight but in those who were overweight. A comparison of the extreme quartiles of MSG intake in subjects with a body mass index lower than 23 kg/m² showed an odds ratio of 2.02 (95% confidence interval 1.02-4.00) for snoring and an odds ratio of 3.11 (95% confidence interval 1.10-8.84) for a high probability of SDB. There was a joint effect between MSG and overweight in relation to SDB.ConclusionThe intake of MSG may increase the risk of SDB in Chinese adults with a normal body weight.Zumin Shi, Gary A. Wittert, Baojun Yuan, Yue Dai, Tiffany K. Gill, Gang Hu, Robert Adams, Hui Zuo, Anne W. Taylo

Snoring and Its-management (Part 1/2): A Review

In-this-study ‘snoring’ was considered under-the-umbrella of sleep-disordered-breathing. The-article reflects concise-background-information, selected via document-analysis, on: Snoring (definitions, types, causes, prevalence, and effects, including: (i) acoustic-disturbance (noise-pollution) and resulted sleep- deprivation, and relationship-problems; and (ii) health-effects, due-to Upper Airway-obstruction); and Snoring-management (treatments and remedies), including the-concept of anti-snoring chin-strap-device. Although, snoring is a-medical-issue, this-review, primarily-targeted, non-medics – product-designers, in-particular; also, it was not intended to-be fully-comprehensive, and, hence, should-be-considered for illustrative-purpose. Nevertheless, the-author trusts, this-review, provided a-contribution (in its-small-way) to the-body of knowledge, on the-subject-matter. Moreover, the-study constituted an-important-step, toward deeper-understanding, of snoring, and its-management-options, alongside with their-limitations, in-the preparation for the-design of an-anti-snoring-device (Part 2/2). Finally, further-research-areas were recommended, on: (1) country-wise-survey on snoring-prevalence; (2) perceptions on snoring; (3) anti- snoring-treatments and remedies, available, and their-cost implications; and (4) the-design of anti-snoring-device (for-example uncomplicated chin-strap-device), to-offer an-affordable-solution, to untapped-local-population of snorers. Keywords: OSA; sleep-disordered-breathing; anti-snoring-devices; anti-snoring-surgery

Dynamics of Snoring Sounds and Its Connection with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Snoring is extremely common in the general population and when irregular may indicate the presence of obstructive sleep apnea. We analyze the overnight sequence of wave packets --- the snore sound --- recorded during full polysomnography in patients referred to the sleep laboratory due to suspected obstructive sleep apnea. We hypothesize that irregular snore, with duration in the range between 10 and 100 seconds, correlates with respiratory obstructive events. We find that the number of irregular snores --- easily accessible, and quantified by what we call the snore time interval index (STII) --- is in good agreement with the well-known apnea-hypopnea index, which expresses the severity of obstructive sleep apnea and is extracted only from polysomnography. In addition, the Hurst analysis of the snore sound itself, which calculates the fluctuations in the signal as a function of time interval, is used to build a classifier that is able to distinguish between patients with no or mild apnea and patients with moderate or severe apnea

The role of ENT surgeons in snoring assessment : some prospective preliminary evidence

Objectives: To determine (i) the prevalence of unsuspected upper aerodigestive tract disease in snorers, (ii) the diagnostic yield of routine flexible endoscopy and (iii) the relationship between symptoms of upper aerodigestive tract disease and examination findings in snorers. Design: Prospective analytical cohort study. Setting: Snoring clinic in Secondary Care Otolaryngologycentre. Participants: Ninety-three patients referred with disruptive snoring.Main outcome measures: A structured history ofupper aerodigestive tract symptoms was obtained byclinic interview. All patients underwent detailed ENTexamination. Univariate analysis was undertaken on data collected. Results: The prevalence of oropharyngeal and laryngealpathology in the cohort was 3%. No unsuspected upper aerodigestive tract pathology was found on routineflexible endoscopy. A history of Hard Nasal Symptoms was an accurate predictor of underlying nasal pathology. Conclusion: The authors propose that the detailed examination of snorers by ENT specialists is unnecessary in the absence of Hard Nasal Symptoms, hoarseness orpain. We propose that a system of triage based on patient history could help identify the minority of snorers who require specialist assessment

Sleep clinical record. what differences in school and preschool children?

The sleep clinical record (SCR) may be a valid method for detecting children with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). This study aimed to evaluate whether there were differences in SCR depending on age and to identify the possible risk factors for OSA development. We enrolled children with sleep disordered breathing between 2013 and 2015, and divided them according to age into preschool- and school-age groups. All patients underwent SCR and polysomnography. OSA was detected in 81.1% and 83.6% of preschool- and school-age groups, respectively. Obesity, malocclusions, nasal septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy were significantly more prevalent in school-age children (p6.5 had a sensitivity of 74% in predicting OSA in preschool children with positive predictive value of 86% (p=0.0001). Our study confirms the validity of the SCR as a screening tool for patient candidates for a PSG study for suspected OSA, in both school and preschool children

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the pediatric age: the role of the dentist

Sleep disordered breathing in children designates a wide spectrum of respiratory disorders characterized by partial or complete obstruction of the upper airways. It ranges from primary snoring, its mildest clinical manifestation, to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS): complete obstruction of the upper airways with cessation of airflow. The aim of this paper is to highlight the roles of the pediatric dentist and the orthodontist in the therapeutic approach to pediatric OSAS as a "sentinel" who can detect early signs of the disease for immediate referral to the otolaryngologist and as an active participant in therapy

A genome-wide association study based on the China Kadoorie Biobank identifies genetic associations between snoring and cardiometabolic traits

Despite the high prevalence of snoring in Asia, little is known about the genetic etiology of snoring and its causal relationships with cardiometabolic traits. Based on 100,626 Chinese individuals, a genome-wide association study on snoring was conducted. Four novel loci were identified for snoring traits mapped on SLC25A21, the intergenic region of WDR11 and FGFR, NAA25, ALDH2, and VTI1A, respectively. The novel loci highlighted the roles of structural abnormality of the upper airway and craniofacial region and dysfunction of metabolic and transport systems in the development of snoring. In the two-sample bi-directional Mendelian randomization analysis, higher body mass index, weight, and elevated blood pressure were causal for snoring, and a reverse causal effect was observed between snoring and diastolic blood pressure. Altogether, our results revealed the possible etiology of snoring in China and indicated that managing cardiometabolic health was essential to snoring prevention, and hypertension should be considered among snorers

Effects of glaucoma and snoring on cerebral oxygenation in the visual cortex: a study using functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of snoring and glaucoma on the visual Haemodynamic Response (HDR) using functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). Methods: We recruited 8 glaucoma patients (aged 56-79), 6 habitual snorers (aged 26-61) and 10 healthy control participants (aged 21-78). Glaucoma patients were of varying subtypes and under care of ophthalmologists. Prior to testing visual acuity, blood pressure, heart rate and a medical history were taken. HDRs were recorded over the primary visual cortex (V1) using a reversing checkerboard paradigm. Results & Discussion: All participants showed the characteristic increase of Oxyhaemoglobin concentration ([HbO]) and decrease of Deoxyhaemoglobin concentration ([HbR]) during visual stimulation (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.78). Despite this, there were signifi cant group differences with a large effect size (η2 = 0.28). During visual stimulation normal participants had greater [HbO] compared to snorers and glaucoma patients (p < 0.01). Both glaucoma patients and snorers presented with comparable HDR for [HbO] and [HbR] in V1. Importantly, during visual stimulation, the increased [HbO] in glaucoma patients correlated well with their visual fi elds and self-reported activities of daily living (r = -0.98, r = -0.82, p < 0.05). Both glaucoma patients and snorers presented with an attenuated HDR in V1. Our results suggest a possible vascular link between these conditions

The importance of screening in children who snore

It is important to screen for OSAS in children who snore, as early treatment of OSAS can prevent neurocognitive, behavioural, cardiovascular and metabolic consequences. Paediatricians should always investigate sleep habits and the possible presence of snoring, respiratory efforts or pauses during routine examination of children. These instruments may be effectively used to identify patients with OSAS, and the specificity and positive predictive value may be increased by adding other screening instruments such as nocturnal pulse oximetry [10]. The sleep questionnaires are instruments that can be used to screen patient candidates for a PSG study for suspected OSAS, and to identify those with a mild form of SDB, enabling early treatment