Many Saudi male adults at risk of sleep apnea

Saudi men suffer from snoring problems putting at risk one in three middle-aged males of contracting obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a survey report says.
The fourth Gulf Sleep Medicine Meeting that took place recently in Dubai said that a Gulf-wide survey has found that 578 middle-aged Saudi males, comprising 52.3 percent of the respondents, suffered from snoring problems. Meanwhile, breathing pauses, more than once a week, were discovered in 11.3 percent of the recorded cases. These figures show that in a primary care setting, one in three middle aged males are at risk of contracting obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Philips Respironics, which is the leading provider of innovative solutions for the global sleep and respiratory markets and the Saudi Sleep Medicine Group (SSMG) discussed recent innovations in sleep diagnostics and therapy solutions at the event, which was chaired by Dr. Hamdan Al-Jahdali, associate professor at King Saud University for Health Services, head of the pulmonary division and medical director of the sleep disorders center in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh.
The event drew over 90 senior specialists from the Sleep Medicine Community in the Middle East as well as representatives from Philips Respironics.
The meeting discussed issues concerning OSA, including the latest clinical research on PAP therapy, diabetes mellitus, strokes and sleep disorders in children. Recent diagnostic tools were showcased along with the Berlin study, which was the first study of its kind to assess the prevalence of OSA in Saudi Arabia.
OSA is a disorder characterized by airway collapse behind the tongue during sleep, which obstructs breathing. It affects approximately 4 percent of the adult population. If OSA is untreated, it can contribute to the development of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that approximately 100 million people worldwide suffer from this condition.
The study was conducted at King Khalid University and King Fahd National Guard primary health care clinics in Riyadh, between December 2005 and March 2006.
Trained medical students attending the primary health-care clinics administered the Berlin Questionnaire to Saudi male patients in the age group of 30-65 years old.
Deya Mudallal, senior regional sales manager at Philips said, “This study gives us great insight and allows us to tackle this condition in a better way. As a global leader in the management of sleep disorders, Philips Respironics has developed an extensive range of products and solutions, including diagnostic tools and patient-centered sleep therapy devices, to help enhance the quality of sleep and improve peoples’ health.”
“This event has also highlighted the need for ongoing research in this field, and we hope to continue our work with SSMG to provide further statistics and insight on OSA in the coming years,” he observed.
Prof. Ahmed Ba-Hammam, a consultant for pulmonary and sleep medicine and director of the sleep disorders center at King Saud University in Riyadh, commented: “Considering the high prevalence and the serious consequences of OSA, greater efforts are needed to build and advance this specialty in the Middle East.