Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms Among the Adult Population in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by repeated episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the airway during sleep. OSA can lead to serious long-term complications if left untreated. Aim This study aims to assess the prevalence of OSA symptoms among the adult population in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Subjects and methods This is a cross-sectional study including the adult population living in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the targeted population using an online survey. The questionnaire was divided into two sections, where the first part was about the characteristics of the participant (i.e., age, gender, marital status, etc.), and the second part was the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaire to evaluate OSA symptoms. Results Three hundred and sixty adult subjects participated in this study by responding to the questionnaire (58.1% males vs. 41.9% females). The respondents' median age was 30 years old. The prevalence of OSA symptoms was 26.9%. In terms of OSA symptom severity, mild, moderate, and severe excessive daytime sleepiness were found among 12.5%, 8.3%, and 6.1%, respectively. The prevalence of OSA symptoms was significantly higher in the older group (>30 years; p=0.004), married participants (p=0.008), and obese or overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2; p=0.002). Multivariate regression estimates showed that being obese or overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) was the sole independent significant predictor associated with increased odds of OSA symptoms. Conclusion The prevalence of OSA symptoms among Al-Ahsa residents was 26.9% with prevalence being higher in males than females. Further investigations are needed to establish the prevalence of OSA and understand its influence on the adult population in our region. People who were suspected to have OSA in this study should be reassessed using polysomnography to confirm the diagnosis. Patients with suspected OSA should be encouraged to adopt lifestyle modifications specifically targeted to/focused on weight reduction and smoking cessation.