Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Associated Risk Factors among Managerial and Senior Executive Level Workers in the Western Province of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent, yet underdiagnosed potentially serious sleep disorder identified worldwide. The present study aimed to assess the risk factors associated with OSA among the managerial and senior executive level workers, who work in demanding work environments. Methods: A web based, cross-sectional study was conducted using data of 390 study participants, comprising managers, senior officials, and legislators selected through cluster sampling in the Western Province, Sri Lanka. Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) was used to assess the OSA risk and demographic and associated factors of participants were surveyed in another section of the semi-structured questionnaire. Associations between risk factors and OSA were evaluated using logistic regression analysis by SPSS 26.0. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: BQ identified 20.8% of participants as being at high-risk of OSA, whereas 79.2% were classified under low-risk. Males were more likely than females to develop high-risk OSA (26.6%vs11.3%, P=0.001), and those in the high- risk category were predominantly middle-aged (41-60 years) men (48.1%). Further, BMI (p=0.001), neck circumference (p=0.044) and alcoholism (p=0.009) had a positive correlation with high-risk OSA which was statistically significant. However, there was no significant association between smoking status and high-risk OSA (p=0.155). There was a significant relationship between the comorbidities, diabetes (p=0.007), stroke (p=0.006), hypertension (p=0.001) and OSA risk except for heart disease (p=0.412). Conclusion: Among category one occupants in the Western Province of Sri Lanka, 20.8% were at high-risk for OSA. Male gender, middle age, obesity, increased neck circumference, alcohol use, and comorbidities like diabetes, stroke, and hypertension were significantly associated with OSA.
Keywords: Sleep Disorders, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Risk factors, Berlin Questionnaire