A Cross-Sectional Comparison of the Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Symptoms in Adults With Down Syndrome in Scotland and Japan.
Hill EA., Sawatari H., Nishizaka MK., Fairley DM., Chishaki A., Funakoshi K., Riha RL., Ando S-I.
Small studies in Western populations report a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with Down syndrome. To date, ethnic differences have not been explored. A questionnaire sent to 2,752 adults with Down syndrome aged ≥16 years in Scotland and Japan (789 valid responses) estimated OSA prevalence based on reported symptoms. Symptoms were common in both countries, with snoring (p = 0.001) and arousals (p = 0.04) more prevalent in Japan. Estimated OSA prevalence in adults with Down syndrome was similar in the two countries, and raised in comparison with the general adult population (19.6% in Scotland and 14.3% in Japan; p = 0.08), though BMI was a confounder. Identification and treatment of OSA is recommended in adults with Down syndrome, regardless of ethnicity.