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Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Menopause

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Sleep Disorders in Women

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Neurology ((CCNEU))

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Abstract

A growing body of work supports the concept that menopause is a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Compared to premenopausal women, the odds for developing OSA increases two- to threefold for postmenopausal women. The increased risk remains even after controlling for confounders including age, body habitus, and smoking. One reason for this association could be the lower levels of reproductive hormones among postmenopausal women and related endocrine changes. Several studies have examined the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on sleep-disordered breathing. Although no clear-cut answer has emerged, it does appear that HRT may attenuate the risk of OSA in menopause. Apart from hormonal changes, the menopausal transition also results in changes in body fat redistribution, respiratory drive, ventilatory stability, and upper airway anatomy and physiology all of which could contribute to the elevated risk for OSA. This chapter summarizes the data on increased prevalence, clinical presentation, and potential mechanisms for the higher occurrence of OSA in menopause.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Sleep Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Grace W. Pien

  2. Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Sigrid C. Veasey

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  1. Grace W. Pien
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Correspondence to Grace W. Pien .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Sleep Medicine, Northwestern University, N. Lake Shore Drive 710, Chicago, 60611, Illinois, USA

    Hrayr P. Attarian

  2. , Department of Neurology, NorthShore Univ. HealthSystem, Ridge Avenue 2650, Evanston, 60201, Illinois, USA

    Mari Viola-Saltzman

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Pien, G.W., Veasey, S.C. (2013). Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Menopause. In: Attarian, H., Viola-Saltzman, M. (eds) Sleep Disorders in Women. Current Clinical Neurology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-324-4_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-324-4_20

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