Dr Milena Pavlova: Sleep Apnea Is More Common in Men, Postmenopausal Women

Sleep apnea is more common in men until after women reach menopause, says Milena Pavlova, MD, neurologist, and medical director of the sleep testing center at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner hospital.

Transcript

Are there sex differences in obstructive sleep apnea and if so, how does the treatment differ?

Sleep apnea is much more common in men. There are various different factors that have been proposed as an explanation. I think it's more complex. But it's about twice more common in men. It also is more common with increased weight, and [that] issue is mechanical. In women, after menopause, the frequency of sleep apnea dramatically increases and becomes much more similar to that of men with sleep apnea of the same age.