Effects of menopause on obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects approximately 4% of adult men and 2% of adult women in the general population. However, this prevalence in women shows a dramatic increase with the menopause. The presence of OSA in women may be largely underestimated in clinical practice, possibly, because OSA has different clinical features and characteristics in women with respect to men. Recently, many epidemiological data were published pertinent to menopause as a risk factor and hormone replacement therapy as a protective factor for OSA. So, it's aimed to review the effects of menopause on OSA in this review.