Differences in Symptoms and Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea between Black and White Patients

• DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.202012-1483oc
• Publication Date: 2021-07-09T16:45:13Z
• Authors: J. Daryl Thornton; Katherine A. Dudley; Gul Jana Saeed; Sheeja T. Schuster; Amy Schell; James C. Spilsbury; Sanjay R. Patel
• Keywords: White (mutation); Sleep

Rationale: Prior work suggests that Black patients have more severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) upon clinical presentation. However, the extent to which this may reflect differences in symptoms or other standard measures of OSA risk is unclear. Objectives: We assessed for racial disparities characteristics at time initial diagnosis. Methods: Data from 890 newly diagnosed with an urban academic center were included analysis. All completed a standardized questionnaire on demographics and sleep-related underwent laboratory polysomnography. Symptom severity evaluation was compared across race sex. Results: men underrepresented lab, making up only 15.8% cohort 31.3% participants (P < 0.001). Despite this, had most mean hypopnea index 52.4 ± 39.4 events/hour, 39.0 28.9 White men, 33.4 32.3 women, 26.2 23.8 women 0.001 test homogeneity). also greatest burden highest Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (12.2 5.9 versus 9.4 5.2 11.2 5.9, 9.8 5.6 women; P Compared 1.61 (95% CI [1.04–2.51]) times likely witnessed apneas 1.56 [1.00–2.46]) drowsy driving Conclusions: At diagnosis, greater disease severity, suggesting delay Further, classic delayed diagnosis not due atypical Further research needed identify why screening methods are equitably implemented care men.