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Dyssomnias

Study Finds Women Underdiagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Due to Inconsistent Scoring Criteria

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers at the Sleep Disorders Clinic have found that women are more likely to be underdiagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to differences in anatomy, clinical presentation, and sociocultural factors. The study, published in the Sleep Science and Practice journal, examined the impact of two different scoring criteria for hypopneas on OSA diagnosis in women.

According to the study, the adoption of a 3% oxygen desaturation criterion for hypopneas significantly increased OSA diagnosis rates in women by 12.8% to 63% and enhanced detection of moderate-severe OSA. In contrast, relying on a 4% criterion resulted in lower prevalence estimates of OSA compared to the 3% criterion. The researchers concluded that the use of the 3% hypopnea scoring criteria is essential for increasing the diagnostic yield of OSA in women.

Key Takeaways:

  • Women are more likely to be underdiagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) due to differences in anatomy, clinical presentation, and sociocultural factors.
  • The use of the 3% hypopnea scoring criteria significantly increases the diagnostic yield of OSA in women, with a 12.8% to 63% increase in diagnosis rates.
  • The 4% criterion for hypopneas resulted in lower prevalence estimates of OSA compared to the 3% criterion.
  • Limited data suggests that treatment of mild OSA in women is beneficial, but more research is needed to explore the long-term impact of more inclusive diagnostic standards on health outcomes.
  • The study highlights the importance of adopting a consistent scoring criterion for hypopneas to improve OSA diagnosis and treatment outcomes in women.
  • Researchers, including Chris A. Chou and Akram Khan, emphasized the need for standardized diagnostic criteria to ensure accurate diagnosis and treatment of OSA in women.
  • The study was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and involved a scoping review of relevant articles from PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar.

Statistics:

  • 12.8% to 63% increase in OSA diagnosis rates in women using the 3% criterion for hypopneas.
  • 4% to 3% criterion for hypopneas resulted in lower prevalence estimates of OSA compared to the 3% criterion.
  • 8 studies were identified that compared the 4% and 3% criteria for hypopneas, highlighting the diagnostic disparity for women.

Sources:

  • The impact of 4% versus 3% hypopnea scoring criteria on obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis in women: a scoping review and commentary. Sleep Science and Practice, 2025, 9(1):1-10. (https://sleep.biomedcentral.com/)
  • NewsRx. Study Findings from Sleep Disorders Clinic Advance Knowledge in Obstructive Sleep Apnea (The impact of 4% versus 3% hypopnea scoring criteria on obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis in women: a scoping review and commentary). Health & Medicine Week. October 31, 2025; p 8029.

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