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Prevalence of Risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Association With Risk Factors in Primary Care

Abstract

Background:

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a chronic, progressive disease with high morbidity and mortality. It is underdiagnosed, especially among women.

Objective:

To study the prevalence of high risk for OSAS globally and for the Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) categories, and to evaluate the reliability of the BQ use in the population studied.

Methods:

Observational, cross-sectional study with individuals from the Niterói Family Doctor Program, randomly selected, aged between 45 and 99 years. The visits occurred between August/2011 and December/2012. Variables associated with each BQ category and with high risk for OSAS (global) were included in logistic regression models (p < 0.05).

Results:

Of the total (616), 403 individuals (65.4%) reported snoring. The prevalence of high risk for OSA was 42.4%, being 49.7% for category I, 10.2% for category II and 77.6% for category III.

Conclusion:

BQ showed an acceptable reliability after excluding the questions Has anyone noticed that you stop breathing during your sleep? and Have you ever dozed off or fallen asleep while driving?. This should be tested in further studies with samples mostly comprised of women and low educational level individuals. Given the burden of OSAS-related diseases and risks, studies should be conducted to validate new tools and to adapt BQ to better screen OSAS.

Keywords:
Sleep Apnea Obstructive; Risk Factors; Prevalence; Surveys and Questionnaires

Resumo

Fundamento:

A síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono (SAOS) é uma doença crônica, progressiva, com alta morbimortalidade. Encontra-se subdiagnosticada, principalmente entre mulheres.

Objetivo:

Estudar a prevalência de alto risco para SAOS globalmente e para as categorias do Questionário de Berlim (QB), e avaliar a confiabilidade do uso do QB na população estudada.

Métodos:

Estudo observacional, transversal de indivíduos cadastrados no Programa Médico de Família de Niterói, selecionados aleatoriamente, com idade entre 45 e 99 anos, com coleta entre agosto/2011 e dezembro/2012. Variáveis associadas com cada uma das categorias do QB e com o alto risco para SAOS (global) (valor p<0,20) foram incluídas em modelos de regressão logística (valor p<0,05).

Resultados:

Do total (616), 403 (65,4%) indivíduos disseram roncar. A prevalência de alto risco para SAOS foi de 42,4%, sendo de 49,7% para a categoria I, 10,2% para a categoria II e 77,6% para a categoria III.

Conclusão:

O QB apresentou uma confiabilidade aceitável quando retiradas as perguntas 'alguém notou que você para de respirar quando está dormindo' e 'cochilar/dormir ao volante', o que deve ser testado em estudos com populações com maioria de mulheres e de baixa escolaridade. Dado o peso das doenças e riscos associados à SAOS, seria importante realizar futuras investigações para validar novos instrumentos ou adaptar o QB para melhor rastreamento da SAOS.

Palavras-chave:
Apneia do Sono Tipo Obstrutiva; Fatores de Risco; Prevalência; Atenção Primária à Saúde; Inquéritos e Questionários

Introduction

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a chronic and progressive disease of increasing importance, because of its neurocognitive and cardiovascular sequelae, such as systemic arterial hypertension (SAH).11 Mancini MC, Aloe F, Tavares S. Apnéia do sono em obesos. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2000;44(1):81-90. It is underdiagnosed, mainly among women.22 Pereira A. Síndrome da apnéia obstrutiva do sono: fisiopatologia. epidemiologia, consequências. diagnóstico e tratamento. Arq Med. 2007;21(5-6):159-73.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is characterized by repeated episodes of complete or partial airflow cessation in the upper airways (apnea and hypopnea, respectively). Such changes are due to complete or partial airflow obstruction at the pharynx level, often resulting in oxygen desaturation and brief awakenings from sleep (arousals).22 Pereira A. Síndrome da apnéia obstrutiva do sono: fisiopatologia. epidemiologia, consequências. diagnóstico e tratamento. Arq Med. 2007;21(5-6):159-73.

In addition to polysomnography, considered gold standard for the diagnosis of OSAS, some tools, such as scales, despite not diagnosing the disorder, indicate the risk for OSAS. Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) is one of them. It comprises three categories of questions, which include snoring, daytime sleepiness and diagnosis of hypertension and obesity.33 Netzer NC, Stoohs RA, Netzer CM, Clark K, Strohl KP. Using the Berlin Questionnaire to identify patients at risk for the sleep apnea syndrome. Ann Intern Med. 1999;131(7):485-91.

In Brazil, we identified only one study estimating the prevalence of high risk for OSAS in the general population, conducted in the city of São Paulo.44 Tufik S, Santos-Silva R, Taddei JA, Bittencourt LR. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study. Sleep Med. 2010;11(5):441-6. Considering the high prevalence of hypertension and the need to better understand the behavior of the BQ in our population, a more careful investigation is certainly extremely useful.

The present study was aimed at estimating the prevalence of high risk for OSAS per BQ category and globally, in addition to assessing the reliability of BQ in a population cared for by the Niterói Family Doctor Program (FDP), Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.

Methods

The present study is part of the DIGITALIS Trial,55 Jorge AJ, Rosa ML, Fernandes LC, Freire MD, Rodrigues RC, Correia DM, et al. Estudo da prevalência de insuficiência cardíaca em indivíduos cadastrados no Programa Médico de Família - Niterói. Estudo DIgItalIs: desenho e método. Rev Bras Cardiol. 2011;24(5):320-5. a cross-sectional study of a random population sample registered in the Niterói FDP, including individuals of both sexes, aged from 45 to 99 years. Medical and nurse visits were appointed at selected FDP healthcare units from August 2011 to November 2012, where blood and urine samples were collected, electrocardiography and echocardiography performed, and a questionnaire specifically elaborated for the study with validated tools, such as the BQ, was applied. The researchers were trained in the procedures elaborated and tested in the pilot-study, carried out in a FDP healthcare unit not included in this study.

Initially, 942 individuals were invited, and 616 attended the appointments, completed the questionnaire, underwent anthropometric and clinical examinations, being included in this study (35% missed the appointment). Table 1 shows sex and age differences of those attending and completing the investigation and those who did not.

Table 1
Characteristics of the individuals invited to participate in the study (assessed and not assessed)

Endpoint: High risk for OSAS measured via BQ. The BQ comprises 10 items, organized into three categories concerning snoring and apnea (5 items), daytime sleepiness (4 items) with a subquestion about sleepiness while driving (nodding off while driving a motor vehicle) and history of SAH or obesity (1 item). Risk classification (high risk versus non high risk) was based on the responses in each category, as follows: category I - persistent symptoms (>3-4 times/week) in at least 2 questions; category II - persistent symptoms (>3-4 times/week) with report of excessive daytime sleepiness or sleepiness while driving a motor vehicle, or both; category III - history of SAH or body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2. Individuals at high risk for OSAS were those with positive scoring in at least two BQ categories.44 Tufik S, Santos-Silva R, Taddei JA, Bittencourt LR. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study. Sleep Med. 2010;11(5):441-6.,66 Netzer NC, Hoegel JJ, Loube D, Netzer CM, Hay B, Alvarez-Sala R, et al. Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in primary care. Sleep in Primary Care International Study Group. Chest. 2003;124(4):1406-14.

Exposure. Age: was recorded in complete years at the time of the appointment and categorized into 10-year age ranges. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM): report of previous medical diagnosis of DM, fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL measured at the time of the appointment, or use of antidiabetic medications. Arterial hypertension: previous diagnosis of SAH, systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mm Hg measured at the time of the appointment, or regular use of anti-hypertensive drugs. Body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 was used to define obesity.

Statistical analysis

We calculated the absolute and relative frequencies of the participants' characteristics, of the responses considered positive according to the BQ score, of the risk categories and of high risk for OSAS (global). Differences were tested as follows: between the proportions, by using Pearson chi-square test, with continuity correction for dichotomous risk variables; and between the means, by using non-paired Student t test. Variables associated with each category and conveying high risk for OSAS (global), with 0.20 significance in the difference between proportions or means, were included in logistic regression models, when statistical significance was established as <0.05. Because the presence of SAH or obesity (BMI) defines category III, those two variables were not assessed on raw and adjusted analysis of category III. All analyses were performed with the SPSS program, version 21 (IBM Corp. Released 2012. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp).

Ethical considerations

This study was conducted according to the principles established in CONEP Resolution 466/2012.

This study protocol was submitted to the Research Ethics Committee of the Medical School of the Antônio Pedro University-affiliated Hospital, and approved (CAAE:0077.0.258.000-10).

Results

The sample of 616 individuals included in this study had the following characteristics: female sex, 61.9%; mean age, 59.1±10.20 years; elementary educational level, 68%; hypertensive, 72.7%; obese, 30.7%; and diabetic, 24.8%. Individuals of the two extreme age groups assessed comprised most of those excluded from the analysis.

Table 2 shows the scores of BQ responses and the prevalence of high risk for OSAS per BQ category and globally. Of all individuals assessed, 403 individuals (65.4%) reported snoring. Three of four responses of category I scored between 22% and 38.5%, while for the question Has anyone noticed that you stop breathing during your sleep?, only 1.8% of the responses scored. In category II, two of the three questions scored approximately 12%, but only 3.4% scored the question Have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep while driving a vehicle?. The global prevalence of high risk for OSAS was 42.4%, with 49.7% prevalence in category I, 10.2% in category II, and 77.6% in category III. The prevalence of high risk for OSAS in category I, according to age groups, had a bell shape curve (p<0.01) and was higher among obese individuals (p<0.01). Only sex associated with high risk for OSAS in category II (p<0.1 and >0.05). The characteristics 'female sex', 'advanced age' and 'DM' showed statistically significant association with high risk for OSAS in category III (hypertension and obesity). Age and DM (p<0.1 and >0.05) associated with global prevalence of high risk for OSAS (Table 3).

Table 2
Scores of the Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) responses and prevalence of high risk for OSAS per BQ categories and globally
Table 3
Prevalence of risk for OSAS1 1 OSAS: obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; defined via the Berlin Questionnaire per category and globally, according to risk variables

Table 4 shows the difference of the means of age, SBP, DBP and BMI according to the presence of high risk for OSAS. In category I, there was association with age, BMI (p<0.01) and DBP (p<0.1 and >0.05). In category II, none of the four variables associated with high risk for OSAS. In category III, the elderly showed higher prevalence of high risk for OSAS. No statistically significant association was observed with global prevalence of high risk for OSAS. In categories III and global, SBP, DBP and BMI were not assessed.

Table 4
Difference of the means according to the presence of high risk for OSAS defined via the Berlin Questionnaire per category and globally

Table 5 shows the results of logistic regressions including the variables with p <0.2 in bivariate analyses. After adjusting, BMI (positive association) and age (negative association) maintained a statistically significant association with high risk for OSAS in category I. Considering that only sex showed association in category II, no adjustment was necessary. In category III, sex (female), age (positive) and DM remained statistically significant at level 0.05. Regarding global prevalence of high risk for OSAS, DM lost statistical significance.

Table 5
Adjusted OR by logistic regression of risk for OSAS defined via the Berlin Questionnaire per category and globally

Discussion

In the present study, the BQ use showed a 42.4% global prevalence of high risk for OSAS, slightly higher than that found in two studies conducted in the city of São Paulo. In the first study, Tufik et al.,44 Tufik S, Santos-Silva R, Taddei JA, Bittencourt LR. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study. Sleep Med. 2010;11(5):441-6. assessing the general population, have reported a 32.8% prevalence. The second study, assessing railroad workers, has reported a 35.03% prevalence.77 Koyama RG, Esteves AM, Oliveira e Silva L, Lira FS, Bittencourt LR, Tufik S, et al. Prevalence of and risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in Brazilian railroad workers. Sleep Med. 2012;13(8):1028-32. The diagnosis of OSAS in both studies was based on polysomnography. The prevalence of OSAS in different scenarios varies according to the distribution of sex, age groups, socioeconomic levels and obesity in the population.44 Tufik S, Santos-Silva R, Taddei JA, Bittencourt LR. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study. Sleep Med. 2010;11(5):441-6.,88 Udwadia ZF, Doshi AV, Lonkar SG, Singh CI. Prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing and sleep apnea in middle-aged urban Indian men. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004;169(2):168-73. Lemos et al.,99 Lemos LC, Marqueze EC, Sachi F, Lorenzi-Filho G, Moreno CR. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in truck drivers. J Bras Pneumol. 2009;35(6):500-6. assessing truck drivers in São Paulo, have reported an 11.5% prevalence of high risk for OSAS, estimated using the BQ. Their study involved young and slim patients, mostly men. Another study conducted in 40 primary care units, 8 in Germany, 6 in Spain and 26 in the United States, using the BQ, has reported prevalences of high risk for OSAS varying from 19.9% in Springfield, USA, to 66.7% in Louisville, USA.66 Netzer NC, Hoegel JJ, Loube D, Netzer CM, Hay B, Alvarez-Sala R, et al. Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in primary care. Sleep in Primary Care International Study Group. Chest. 2003;124(4):1406-14.

The calculation of global high risk for OSAS via BQ combines the risks of three categories, and all hypertensive and/or obese individuals are classified as at risk in category III. Obesity has been strongly associated with OSAS. Tufik et al.44 Tufik S, Santos-Silva R, Taddei JA, Bittencourt LR. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study. Sleep Med. 2010;11(5):441-6. have found an OR of 10.5 (95%CI: 7.1-15.7). Association with SAH seems to be less intense, even considering patients whose blood pressure does not drop during sleep (non-dipper), or those with resistant hypertension [odds ratio (OR) of 2.27 (95%CI: 1.76-2.92),1010 Nieto FJ, Young TB, Lind BK, Shahar E, Samet JM, Redline S, et al; Pickering TG. Association of sleep-disordered breathing, sleep apnea, and hypertension in a large community-based study. Sleep Heart Health Study. JAMA. 2000;283(14):1829-36. Erratum in: JAMA 2002;288(16):1985. 4.4 (95%CI: 1.2-16.31)1111 Hla KM, Young T, Finn L, Peppard PE, Szklo-Coxe M, Stubbs M. Longitudinal association of sleep-disordered breathing and nondipping of nocturnal blood pressure in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study. Sleep. 2008;31(6):795-800. and 7.74 (95%CI: 2.43-24.64),1212 Drager LF, Genta PR, Pedrosa RP, Nerbass FB, Gonzaga CC, Krieger EM, et al. Characteristics and predictors of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with systemic hypertension. Am J Cardiol. 2010;105(8):1135-9. respectively]. The authors of the BQ do not justify the inclusion of that category and have not measured its impact on the calculation of high risk for OSAS.33 Netzer NC, Stoohs RA, Netzer CM, Clark K, Strohl KP. Using the Berlin Questionnaire to identify patients at risk for the sleep apnea syndrome. Ann Intern Med. 1999;131(7):485-91.

In our study population, 72.7% of the individuals were classified as hypertensive, and 30.7%, as obese, increasing the prevalence of high risk for OSAS in category III, and, consequently, of global prevalence. In the study by Tufik et al.,44 Tufik S, Santos-Silva R, Taddei JA, Bittencourt LR. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study. Sleep Med. 2010;11(5):441-6. with OSAS prevalence slightly lower than that of high risk for OSAS found in this study, mean age was smaller, as was the prevalence of obesity (21.5%). Those authors have provided no data on blood pressure. A North American study,1313 Hiestand DM, Britz P, Goldman M, Phillips B. Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in the US population: results from the national sleep foundation in America poll. Chest. 2006;130(3):780-6. in which mean age and prevalence of obesity (25%) and of SAH (29%) were lower than those found in our study, has reported a 27% prevalence of high risk for OSAS. High prevalence of risk for OSAS in category III has also been reported by Netzer et al.66 Netzer NC, Hoegel JJ, Loube D, Netzer CM, Hay B, Alvarez-Sala R, et al. Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in primary care. Sleep in Primary Care International Study Group. Chest. 2003;124(4):1406-14. in Stuart, Florida (68.8%), closer to the prevalence in category III found in the present study (77.6%).

Considering that, an overestimated prevalence of SAH and obesity could be suspected, and consequently, of OSAS. According to the 2011 and 2012 Brazilian surveillance system of risk factors and protection against chronic diseases via telephone Vigitel (2011 and 2012), the prevalence of self-reported diagnosis of hypertension in the city of Rio de Janeiro was 59.7%, the highest among all Brazilian capitals and the highest mean prevalence of all cities investigated for the age group ≥65 years. These figures are smaller than the 77.6% found in this study for the population cared for by the Niterói FDP. Regarding obesity, the Brazilian prevalence for the age groups of 45 years and older was higher (20% versus 30.7%). It is worth noting, however, that the prevalence of obesity recorded in Vigitel (2011 and 2012) was higher among women and less educated individuals, major groups in the present study.1414 Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Vigitel Brasil 2011: Vigilância de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas por inquérito telefônico. Brasília; 2012. 132 p: II (Série G. Estatística e Informação em Saúde). [Acesso em 2015 mar 30]. Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/vigitel_brasil_2011_fatores_risco_doencas_cronicas.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe...
,1515 Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Vigitel. Departamento de Vigilância de Doenças e Agravos não Transmissíveis e Promoção de Saúde. 2012. Brasília; 2013. [Acesso em 2015 mar 30]. Disponível em: http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/vigitel_brasil_2012.pdf
http://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoe...

Primary snoring is believed to be the first stage of severe OSAS, and its intensity is known to associate with the severity of OSAS.1616 Maimon N, Hanly PJ. Does snoring intensity correlate with the severity of obstructive sleep apnea? J Clin Sleep Med. 2010;6(5):475-8. Snoring has 82.6% sensitivity and 43% specificity to diagnose OSAS,1717 Zancanella E, Haddad FM, Oliveira LA, Nakasato A, Duarte BB, Soares CF, et al. Apneia obstrutiva do sono e ronco primário: diagnóstico - Projeto Diretrizes. Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e outras / 2012. [Acesso em 2015 mai 24]. Disponível em: http://www.projetodiretrizes.org.br/diretrizes12/apneia_obstrutiva_do_sono_e_ronco_primario_diagnostico.pdf
http://www.projetodiretrizes.org.br/dire...
thus the need to be associated with other elements to define high risk for that syndrome. In our study, the frequency of snoring was higher (65.4%) than in two other studies using the BQ (52.2% and 59%).33 Netzer NC, Stoohs RA, Netzer CM, Clark K, Strohl KP. Using the Berlin Questionnaire to identify patients at risk for the sleep apnea syndrome. Ann Intern Med. 1999;131(7):485-91.,1313 Hiestand DM, Britz P, Goldman M, Phillips B. Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in the US population: results from the national sleep foundation in America poll. Chest. 2006;130(3):780-6. Considering the higher percentage of obese individuals in our study, that discrepancy was expected. Our prevalences were lower than those of the two studies, differing in the responses to the questions How often do you snore?, Has your snoring ever bothered other people? and mainly Has anyone noticed that you stop breathing during your sleep?. However, the prevalence of high risk for OSAS in category I (49.7%) was similar to those estimated in most North American and European primary care clinics assessed by Netzer et al.66 Netzer NC, Hoegel JJ, Loube D, Netzer CM, Hay B, Alvarez-Sala R, et al. Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in primary care. Sleep in Primary Care International Study Group. Chest. 2003;124(4):1406-14.

Non-restoring sleep and fatigue are common in adults with OSAS.1717 Zancanella E, Haddad FM, Oliveira LA, Nakasato A, Duarte BB, Soares CF, et al. Apneia obstrutiva do sono e ronco primário: diagnóstico - Projeto Diretrizes. Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e outras / 2012. [Acesso em 2015 mai 24]. Disponível em: http://www.projetodiretrizes.org.br/diretrizes12/apneia_obstrutiva_do_sono_e_ronco_primario_diagnostico.pdf
http://www.projetodiretrizes.org.br/dire...
The frequencies of those conditions vary in different populations. In the article by Netzer et al.,66 Netzer NC, Hoegel JJ, Loube D, Netzer CM, Hay B, Alvarez-Sala R, et al. Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in primary care. Sleep in Primary Care International Study Group. Chest. 2003;124(4):1406-14. the only question relates to dozing off or sleeping while driving, and the responses varied from 4% to 32%; in our study, we observed 3.4%, similar to the smallest value reported by Netzer et al.66 Netzer NC, Hoegel JJ, Loube D, Netzer CM, Hay B, Alvarez-Sala R, et al. Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in primary care. Sleep in Primary Care International Study Group. Chest. 2003;124(4):1406-14. In the population cared for by the FDP, few individuals drive a motor vehicle. However, in places where women predominate, a lower prevalence of risk for OSAS in category II is expected, because they complain less than men do.1818 Kapsimalis F, Kryger MH. Gender and obstructive apnea syndrome. Part 1: clinical features. Sleep. 2002;25(4):412-9.

The comparison of the prevalence of high risk for OSAS in the United States and Europe shows similar results in category I (43.1% and 43.5%). However, the prevalence of high risk for OSAS in category II (daytime sleepiness/fatigue) differed in those areas, being three-times higher in the United States than in Europe (32.4% and 11.8%).66 Netzer NC, Hoegel JJ, Loube D, Netzer CM, Hay B, Alvarez-Sala R, et al. Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in primary care. Sleep in Primary Care International Study Group. Chest. 2003;124(4):1406-14. In our study, the prevalence of high risk for OSAS in category II was closer to the European one (10.2%).

Hypertension has been associated with OSAS, in studies both using polysomnography1919 Young T, Peppard P, Palta M, Hla KM, Finn L, Morgan B, et al. Population-based study of sleep-disordered breathing as a risk factor for hypertension. Arch Intern Med. 1997;157:1746-52. and estimating the high risk for OSAS via questionnaires, regardless of other risk factors.2020 Lavie P, Herer P, Hoffstein V. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome as a risk factor for hypertension: population study. BMJ. 2000;320:479-82. The OR found in such studies were greater than 2. In a critical review, Mohsenin2121 Mohsenin V. Obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension: a critical review. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2014 doi: 10.1007/s11906-014-0482-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-014-0482-...
states that daytime hypertension is present in up to 60% of patients with OSAS. In the present study, only the difference of mean DBP associated with high risk for OSAS in category I, and such association disappeared (ORa=1) after adjusting for age and BMI. Margallo et al.2222 Margallo VS, Muxfeldt ES, Guimarães GM, Salles GF. Diagnostic accuracy of the Berlin questionnaire in detecting obstructive sleep apnea in patients with resistant hypertension. Journal of Hypertension. 2014;32:2030-37. have estimated the association of blood pressure changes with high risk for OSAS according to the modified BQ, with risk exclusion in category III. Their results are comparable to those observed in our study with statistically significant difference only for mean DBP.

The interruptions in airflow lead to brief awakenings that cause daytime sleepiness and fatigue.1717 Zancanella E, Haddad FM, Oliveira LA, Nakasato A, Duarte BB, Soares CF, et al. Apneia obstrutiva do sono e ronco primário: diagnóstico - Projeto Diretrizes. Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e outras / 2012. [Acesso em 2015 mai 24]. Disponível em: http://www.projetodiretrizes.org.br/diretrizes12/apneia_obstrutiva_do_sono_e_ronco_primario_diagnostico.pdf
http://www.projetodiretrizes.org.br/dire...
The BQ is aimed at capturing those changes by using questions grouped into categories I and II. However, the frequency of positive responses to those questions varies culturally, as observed from the prevalence differences between North American and European communities.66 Netzer NC, Hoegel JJ, Loube D, Netzer CM, Hay B, Alvarez-Sala R, et al. Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in primary care. Sleep in Primary Care International Study Group. Chest. 2003;124(4):1406-14.

In our study, the BQ reliability, tested with Cronbach alpha, was 0.586 (weak) for category I. Cronbach alpha increased to 0.618 (acceptable) by withdrawing the question Has anyone noticed that you stop breathing during your sleep?. For category II, Cronbach alpha was 0.521 (weak). By withdrawing the question Have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep while driving a vehicle?, Cronbach alpha increased to 0.705 (acceptable). Assessing BQ validation, Cronbach alpha reached higher levels: 0.92 for category I and 0.86 for category II, when excluding the question Have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep while driving a vehicle?. This can be attributed to the low educational level of most individuals assessed, as well as to the higher percentage of women in the study sample, which might have yield false negative responses, mainly in category II.

The present study has some limitations worth noting. First, due to its cross-sectional nature, we could not establish whether SAH or obesity preceded the occurrence of OSAS. Second, there were 35% of losses (individuals who refused to participate in the study), mainly among men and individuals of the two extreme age groups (45 to 49 years and 80 to 99 years). The participation of a larger number of ill individuals, such as hypertensives, might have led to overestimation of the prevalence of OSAS.

Conclusion

The global prevalence of high risk for OSAS, estimated via BQ, in the population cared for by the FDP was 42.4%. However, because of the losses, that prevalence might have been overestimated. In addition, the high frequency of SAH and obesity increased the prevalence of risk for OSAS. The prevalences in the three BQ categories were very different, but comparable to those reported in the literature. The BQ reliability was lower in this study population, whose educational level is lower than that of other populations studied. Our data show that the BQ reliability in populations mainly formed by female and low-educational-level individuals increases when excluding from the analysis the questions Has anyone noticed that you stop breathing during your sleep? and Have you ever nodded off or fallen asleep while driving a vehicle?, indicating the importance of performing new studies to validate that tool for that group.

  • Sources of Funding
    There were no external funding sources for this study.
  • Study Association
    This article is part of the thesis of master submitted by Kenia Vieira da Silv, from Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva.
  • 1
    Mancini MC, Aloe F, Tavares S. Apnéia do sono em obesos. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2000;44(1):81-90.
  • 2
    Pereira A. Síndrome da apnéia obstrutiva do sono: fisiopatologia. epidemiologia, consequências. diagnóstico e tratamento. Arq Med. 2007;21(5-6):159-73.
  • 3
    Netzer NC, Stoohs RA, Netzer CM, Clark K, Strohl KP. Using the Berlin Questionnaire to identify patients at risk for the sleep apnea syndrome. Ann Intern Med. 1999;131(7):485-91.
  • 4
    Tufik S, Santos-Silva R, Taddei JA, Bittencourt LR. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the Sao Paulo Epidemiologic Sleep Study. Sleep Med. 2010;11(5):441-6.
  • 5
    Jorge AJ, Rosa ML, Fernandes LC, Freire MD, Rodrigues RC, Correia DM, et al. Estudo da prevalência de insuficiência cardíaca em indivíduos cadastrados no Programa Médico de Família - Niterói. Estudo DIgItalIs: desenho e método. Rev Bras Cardiol. 2011;24(5):320-5.
  • 6
    Netzer NC, Hoegel JJ, Loube D, Netzer CM, Hay B, Alvarez-Sala R, et al. Prevalence of symptoms and risk of sleep apnea in primary care. Sleep in Primary Care International Study Group. Chest. 2003;124(4):1406-14.
  • 7
    Koyama RG, Esteves AM, Oliveira e Silva L, Lira FS, Bittencourt LR, Tufik S, et al. Prevalence of and risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in Brazilian railroad workers. Sleep Med. 2012;13(8):1028-32.
  • 8
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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    03 May 2016
  • Date of issue
    June 2016

History

  • Received
    06 Apr 2015
  • Reviewed
    19 Oct 2015
  • Accepted
    04 Feb 2016
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