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Risk factors

By Mayo Clinic staff

Sleep apnea may occur if you're young or old, male or female. Even children can have sleep apnea. But certain factors put you at increased risk:

Obstructive sleep apnea

  • Excess weight. Fat deposits around your upper airway may obstruct your breathing. However, not everyone who has sleep apnea is overweight. Thin people develop the disorder, too.
  • Neck circumference. A neck circumference greater than 17 inches (43 centimeters) is associated with an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea. That's because a thick neck may narrow the airway and may be an indication of excess weight.
  • High blood pressure (hypertension). Sleep apnea is more common in people with hypertension.
  • A narrowed airway. You may have inherited a naturally narrow throat. Or, your tonsils or adenoids may become enlarged, which can block your airway.
  • Being male. Men are twice as likely to have sleep apnea. However, women increase their risk if they're overweight, and the risk also appears to rise after menopause.
  • Being older. Sleep apnea occurs two to three times more often in adults older than 65.
  • Family history. If you have family members with sleep apnea, you may be at increased risk.
  • Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers. These substances relax the muscles in your throat.
  • Smoking. Smokers are three times more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea than are people who've never smoked. Smoking may increase the amount of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway. This risk likely drops after you quit smoking.
  • Prolonged sitting. Studies suggest that long periods of daytime sitting can cause fluids to shift from your legs when you recline at night, narrowing airway passages and possibly increasing the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

Central sleep apnea

  • Being male. Males are more likely to develop central sleep apnea.
  • Being older. People over 65 years of age have a higher risk of having central sleep apnea, especially if they also have other risk factors.
  • Heart disorders. People with atrial fibrillation or congestive heart failure are more at risk of central sleep apnea.
  • Stroke or brain tumor. These conditions can impair the brain's ability to regulate breathing.

Complex sleep apnea
The same risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea are also risk factors for complex sleep apnea. In addition, complex sleep apnea may be more common in people who have heart disorders.

Complications Causes
References
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DS00148 June 29, 2010

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