Effects of demographic and sleep-related factors on snoring sound parameters

• Published in: Sleep medicine Vol. 104; pp. 3 - 10
• Main Authors: Huang, Zhengfei, Lobbezoo, Frank, Vanhommerig, Joost W., Volgenant, Catherine M.C., de Vries, Nico, Aarab, Ghizlane, Hilgevoord, Antonius A.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-04-2023
• Subjects: Acoustic analysis; Adult; Apnea-hypopnea index; Demography; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Obstructive sleep apnea; Polysomnography; Sleep; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Sleep position; Sleep stage; Snoring; Snoring sound; Sleep stage; Sleep position; Snoring sound; Obstructive sleep apnea; Acoustic analysis; Apnea-hypopnea index
• ISSN: 1389-9457; 1878-5506
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2023.02.012

To investigate the effect of frequently reported between-individual (viz., age, gender, body mass index [BMI], and apnea-hypopnea index [AHI]) and within-individual (viz., sleep stage and sleep position) snoring sound-related factors on snoring sound parameters in temporal, intensity, and frequency domains.
This study included 83 adult snorers (mean ± SD age: 42.2 ± 11.3 yrs; male gender: 59%) who underwent an overnight polysomnography (PSG) and simultaneous sound recording, from which a total of 131,745 snoring events were extracted and analyzed. Data on both between-individual and within-individual factors were extracted from the participants’ PSG reports.
Gender did not have any significant effect on snoring sound parameters. The fundamental frequency (FF; coefficient = −0.31; P = 0.02) and dominant frequency (DF; coefficient = −12.43; P < 0.01) of snoring sounds decreased with the increase of age, and the second formant increased (coefficient = 22.91; P = 0.02) with the increase of BMI. Severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA; AHI ≥30 events/hour), non-rapid eye movement sleep stage 3 (N3), and supine position were all associated with more, longer, and louder snoring events (P < 0.05). Supine position was associated with higher FF and DF, and lateral decubitus positions were associated with higher formants.
Within the limitations of the current patient profile and included factors, AHI was found to have greater effects on snoring sound parameters than the other between-individual factors. The included within-individual factors were found to have greater effects on snoring sound parameters than the between-individual factors under study.
•Sleep stage and sleep position have significant effects on snoring sound.•Gender did not have significant effect on snoring sound.•Severe OSA, N3 stage, and supine position relate to more and louder snoring sounds.•Positional therapy should be considered for all snorers.