Marital status and sleep-disordered breathing in a sample of middle-aged French men

• Published in: Lung 2004-12, Vol.182 (6), p.355-362
• Main Authors: Teculescu, D, Hannhart, B, Virion, J M, Montaut-Verient, B, Michaely, J P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Body Mass Index; France - epidemiology; Humans; Life Style; Male; Marriage; Men; Middle age; Middle Aged; Obesity - epidemiology; Respiratory system; Sampling Studies; Single Person; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - epidemiology; Sleep Apnea Syndromes - etiology; Sleep disorders; Smoking - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Waist-Hip Ratio
• ISSN: 0341-2040; 1432-1750
• DOI: 10.1007/s00408-004-2516-1

The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that unmarried (single) men have more sleep-disordered breathing symptoms due to a higher prevalence of obesity and a less healthy lifestyle than men living with a partner. Men (499) aged 23-66 years completed a structured questionnaire, had standard anthropometric measurements and a simple, noninvasive nose-throat examination. Of the 499,496 subjects answered the question concerning their marital status; 86% of them were married or lived with a partner (reference group) and the other 14% had never been married, divorced, or widowed ("single" group, considered at risk). Single subjects were younger, included slightly more smokers (30 vs. 23%) and more subjects with a history of chronic bronchitis, and less frequently had a large soft palate. The prevalence of sleep-disordered symptoms was not significantly different between the two groups. However, a study involving a larger number of subjects with information regarding alcoholic consumption may be needed to further evaluate this question.