Research
Mixed
In male patients, abdominal (waist) circumference is a closer independent correlate of OSA severity (AHI) than neck circumference or BMI, whereas in female patients, neck circumference is the best anthropometric correlate.
Body shape matters for OSA risk assessment differently for men and women. For men, waist size is a better indicator of OSA severity than neck size. For women, neck size remains the key anthropometric indicator. Doctors should account for these sex-specific differences when assessing risk.
GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
After controlling for BMI and age, waist circumference correlated more closely with AHI than neck circumference among males, while the opposite was true among females.
Why this rating
Large sample size, rigorous statistical control for BMI and age.
Source
Predictive value of clinical features for the obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome
PC Deegan et al. · European Respiratory Journal · 1996
DOI 10.1183/09031936.96.09010117
cohort · n=250Cited 291×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Combining clinical features (male sex, habitual snoring, supine sleep, heartburn, driving drowsiness, alcohol, BMI, age) with overnight oximetry allows confident diagnosis or exclusion of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) in approximately one-third of patients, thereby reducing the need for full polysomnography.Good
- Habitual snoring occurring 'every night' is a significant predictor of OSA, whereas less frequent snoring is not, and daytime sleepiness (EDS) is only predictive when it manifests as dozing while driving.Good
Related findings · Mixed
- Bariatric surgery (VSG and RYGB) is the most effective and sustainable treatment for obesity, producing marked and sustained weight loss that non-surgical interventions cannot match.Strong
- Severely protein-deficient diets (2–3% energy) induce lean body mass loss and metabolic imbalance, whereas adequate protein intake (0.66 g/kg/d minimum) is a prerequisite for maintaining muscle, bone, and physiological function.Strong
- For patients with Class III obesity (BMI >39.9 kg/m2), metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) is significantly more effective than any currently approved medication, with BilioPancreatic Diversion (BPD) showing the highest estimated weight loss.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →