Factors associated with high obstructive sleep apnea risk among adult patients attending UiTM primary care clinic / Sharifah Azimah Wan Ali

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), yet underdiagnosed. Presence of OSA and metabolic syndrome (MetS) synergistically increase CVD morbidity and mortality. At present, data is scarce on prevalence and factors associated with high OSA risk including Mets. Hence, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with high OSA risk including MetS using a validated Malay version of Berlin Questionnaire (BQ-M) among patients attending primary care clinics. MetS will be defined by the latest Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. A cross-sectional study was conducted at UiTM Primary Care Clinics between June 2018-August 2018. Adults aged ?:18 years old who fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited using systematic random sampling. Socio-demographic, clinical parameters, fasting lipid profile and fasting blood glucose data were obtained. BQ-M was self-administered. A total of 408 participants with a response rate of93.8% participated in the study. The mean age was 56.04 ± 13.00 years, with more males (n = 209, 51.2%), Malays (n= 346, 84.8%) and non-smokers (n= 283, 69.4%). The overall prevalence of high OSA risk was 39.7% (95% CI: 34.94%,44.47%). There were high proportion of MetS in the overall study population (60%, n = 245) and among high OSA risk group (75.3%, n = 122). Being male [OR 2.16, (CI:1.41,3.31)], having visceral obesity [OR 2.07, (CI:1.12,3.84)] and clinically diagnosed with MetS [OR 2.06, CI: (1.24, 3.43)] were more likely to have high OSA risk. As a conclusion, patients attending sub-urban primary care clinics are at risk of having high OSA risk. Thus, it is imperative to screen for OSA particularly among high risk groups attending the primary care clinics especially male, individuals with visceral obesity and MetS.