Gender And Obesity Key Factors In Habitual Snoring

A new study confirms that male gender, obesity, and weight gain are key determinants of habitual snoring in the adult population. In 1981, Australian researchers surveyed 967 nonsnoring adults aged 25 to 74 years regarding their gender, age, respiratory/allergy symptoms, and habits related to snoring, smoking, and alcohol, tea, and coffee consumption. Body size measurements and lung function were also measured. Participants completed a follow-up survey 14-years later. Overall, 13 percent of participants became habitual snorers at the 14-year follow up. Results indicated that male gender and baseline body max index (BMI) were significant predictors of developing habitual snoring. Change in BMI over the follow-up period, development of asthma, and initiation of smoking were additional independent risk factors for the development of habitual snoring. This study appears in the December issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.

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Newsbriefs from the journal Chest, December 2006

Contact: Jennifer Stawarz
American College of Chest Physicians