Undiagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Population of Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a potentially life-threatening disorder that is poorly defined and underreported. OSA is characterized by recurrent episodes of upper airway obstruction, resulting in breathing difficulty during sleep, disruptive snoring, and nocturnal hypoxemia. Despite increased knowledge of this disease, OSA remains undiagnosed in many patients. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess excessive daytime sleepiness, which is a common symptom of undiagnosed OSA in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study design composed of an online survey that was distributed through social media from April 10, 2016 to August 10, 2016. The participants were first asked if they were Saudi. The survey included questions about demographic data, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), awareness of the sleep disorder, diagnosis status, snoring, chronic disease, obesity, and nocturnal polyuria. The sum of eight situations was calculated, and the risk of OSA was correlated with the abovementioned variables. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.20 software. Results: total of 1,925 Saudis participated in our survey. The average age was 32.7 years. The majority were men (57.9%, n=1,115) and 42.1% (n=810) were women. Seven hundred and thirty-seven participants were found to have a risk of sleep apnea (>8) as per ESS were. Of these 737 participants, 44% felt that they had sleep problems. However, only 5.5% (n=41) were diagnosed with OSA. Of the male participants, 19% admitted to sleeping while driving; of these participants, 3.7% indicated a very high chance of sleeping while driving. Conclusion: The Saudi population may have an increased potential risk of OSA, with an increased obesity rate playing a role in its etiology. OSA would increase the tragedy of road traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia. A national project of implementing OSA screening programs, with the help of dentists and primary health-care providers, is paramount.