Body Mass Index (BMI) and Neck Circumference (NC) in Diagnosing Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder for which obesity is a major risk factor. It has been suggested that the circumference of the neck (NC) is more predictive of OS A than general obesity assessed by the Body Mass Index (BMI). In the National Tertiary Center for Sleep Study, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar; 187 patients were studied to evaluate the usefulness of NC and BMI in diagnosing OSA and in selecting patients for overnight polysomnography (PSG). Eighty patients (42.8%), 69 males and 11 females with higher mean age, had evidence of significant OSA (RDI > 15 events/h sleep). OSA was found more in the non-Qatari (n = 57, 553%) than the Qatari's (n = 23, 27.4%). NC mean levels were more in OSA group (41.51 ± 3.12) than non OSA group (39.57 ± 4.35) but, classifying obese as BMI = 30, there was no significant difference in the BMI of apneic and non-apneic groups. The study suggest that OSA is more common in males and NC correlates well in predicting OSA compared to generalized obesity/BMI...