Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to study the interactions among age, gender, and snoring across all age groups
Methods
All cross-sectional study reporting gender-specific prevalence of snoring in general population published from 1966 through July 2008 were included and were meta-analyzed. The sources of heterogeneity among primary studies were studied by meta-regression.
Results
From a total of 1,593 citations reviewed, 63 were included in the analysis of snoring. These 63 studies were comprised 104,337 and 110,474, respectively. A combined odds ratio of 1.89 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.75–2.03 for male versus female was found. The heterogeneity was significant with an estimated between-study variance, τ 2 being 0.065 and 95% confidence interval of 0.0397–0.0941. Multiple meta-regression showed that age were the significant effect modifier of the relationship between snoring and gender.
Conclusion
This study found a consistent male predominance in snoring among the general population, and the heterogeneity in the risk of snoring between two genders can be partly explained by age.
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This was not an industry supported study. The authors have indicated no financial conflicts of interest.
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Chan, Ch., Wong, B.M., Tang, Jl. et al. Gender difference in snoring and how it changes with age: systematic review and meta-regression. Sleep Breath 16, 977–986 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-011-0596-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-011-0596-8