Prevalence of Snoring in College Students

Snoring in college students may be the earliest presentation of adult sleep-disordered breathing, yet the literature contains few studies that demonstrate its effects on learning or whether early diagnosis leads to interruption of disease progression or prevention of comorbidities. Objective and Participants: The authors conducted this study in January-April 2004 to assess the prevalence of snoring in college students (N = 2,200). Methods: They developed a questionnaire on sleep behaviors and distributed it to 18- to 25-year-old undergraduates at a California university. Results: Almost one-third (30%) of participants reported snoring. The prevalence of snoring was higher among men than women (42% and 25%, respectively). The prevalence of self-reported snoring was highest in Asian students (37%). Conclusions: Snoring is highly prevalent in college students; prevalence is higher in men than women, correlates with body mass index, and varies by ethnicity.