[Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome in adults aged over 20 years in Fuzhou city].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in adults aged over 20 years in Fuzhou city, there fore to provide epidemiological data for prevention and treatment of the disease, and establishing a data base for prospective study. METHODS: A total of 5500 subjects were derived from a random and cluster sampling of the population in 5 districts of Fuzhou city. They were asked to answer the questions from a questionnaire at home. According to the degree of snoring, 315 subjects with a snoring score > or = 3 degree and 100 subjects with a snoring score = 2 degree were selected at random to undergo polysomnography for a whole night. The prevalence of the disease was estimated and the risk factors for OSAHS were analyzed. RESULTS: 4595 subjects (83.55%) responded, and validated questionnaires were obtained from 4286 subjects (effective power 93.28%); of whom 606 (14.14%) subjects had habitual snoring. The estimated prevalence of OSAHS defined by apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) > or = 5 and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) > or = 9 was 4.78%. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, smoking, family snoring, neck-circumference, waist circumference, and abnormality of the upper airway were significant risk factors for OSAHS. CONCLUSIONS: The estimated prevalences of snoring and OSAHS in adults aged over 20 years in Fuzhou city was high. Strategies based on the epidemiological data in Fuzhou city are needed to cut down the prevalence and harm of OSAHS by controlling modifiable risk factors.