• Siraj O Wali and Bahaa A Abaalkhail.
• Sleep Medicine and Research Center, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail. sowali@kau.edu.sa.
• Saudi Med J. 2015 Aug 1; 36 (8): 920927920-7.

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of habitual snoring among a sample of middle-aged Saudi adults, and its potential predictors. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2013 until June 2013 in randomly selected Saudi Schools in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The enrolled subjects were 2682 school employees (aged 30-60 years, 52.1% females) who were randomly selected and interviewed. The questionnaire used for the interview included: the Wisconsin Sleep Questionnaire to assess for snoring, medical history, and socio-demographic data. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure readings were recorded using standard methods. ResultsForty percent of the 2682 enrolled subjects were snorers: 23.5% were habitual snorers, 16.6% were moderate snorers, and 59.9%, were non-snorers. A multivariate analysis revealed that independent predictors of snoring were ageing, male gender, daytime sleepiness, hypertension, family history of both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, water-pipe smoking, and consanguinity.ConclusionThis study shows that snoring is a common condition among the Saudi population. Previously reported risk factors were reemphasized but consanguinity was identified as a new independent predictive risk factor of snoring. Exploring snoring history should be part of the clinical evaluation.

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