Risk Factors for Sleep Apnea

A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.

It is possible to develop sleep apnea with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing sleep apnea. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk.

Risk factors for sleep apnea include:

Smoking

Heavy smokers —people who smoke more than two packs per day—are 40 times more likely to develop sleep apnea than nonsmokers.

Alcohol

Some studies have shown that people who use alcohol regularly have an increased risk of sleep apnea.

Sedative Medications

Using sedative medications can increase your risk of sleep apnea.

Medical Conditions

The following conditions may increase your risk of obstructive sleep apnea:

Obesity
Pregnancy
Diabetes
Polycystic ovary syndrome
High blood pressure
Facial deformities
Hypothyroidism
Esophageal reflux
Enlarged tonsils or adenoids
Chronic respiratory tract conditions, such as:
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Chronic bronchitis
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The following conditions may increase your risk of central sleep apnea:

Bulbar poliomyelitis
Encephalitis
Neurodegenerative diseases
Stroke
Problems after cervical spine surgery
Primary hypoventilation syndrome
Brain tumors
Down’s syndrome due to a large tongue and a thick neck

Gender

Men are thought to be 2 to 4 times more likely to develop sleep apnea than women. However, some researchers have suggested that this difference might actually be because women are underdiagnosed with the condition.

Genetic Factors

The tendency to develop sleep apnea appears to run in certain families.

Ethnic Background

Sleep apnea is more common among:

African Americans
People of Mexican origin
Pacific Islanders

Physical Characteristics

You have an increased risk of developing sleep apnea if you have the following physical characteristics:

Thick neck
Obstructed nasal passages
Large tongue
Narrow airway
Receding chin
Overbite
Certain shapes and increased rigidity of the palate and jaw

You also have an increased risk of developing sleep apnea if you breathe through your mouth while sleeping, or if you snore.

References

American Sleep Apnea Association website. Available at: http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/evaluated.html . Published May 2005. Accessed September 17, 2008.

Cecil R, Goldman L, Benett JC. Cecil Textbook of Medicine . 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company; 2000.

NINDS sleep apnea information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/sleep%5Fapnea/sleep%5Fapnea.htm . Updated June 2008. Accessed September 17, 2008.

What are the risk factors for sleep apnea? Health Cares website. Available at: http://neurology.health-cares.net/sleep-apnea-risk-factors.php . Updated July 2005. Accessed September 17, 2008.

What is sleep apnea? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/SleepApnea/SleepApnea%5FWhatIs.html . Updated February 2008. Accessed September 17, 2008.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Rimas Lukas, MD
Review Date: 09/2012
Update Date: 00/91/2012

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.