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CONCLUSIONS:There are gender differences when it comes to the risk factors for sleep apnea. Large tonsils, a high tongue and a wide uvula are risk factors for sleep apnea in men, while large tonsils and a retrognathic mandible are risk factors in women. Upper airway abnormalities including mandibular retrognathia are, however, unable to predict sleep apnea among snorers being investigated for suspected sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVES: To identify gender-specific risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea and the diagnostic performance from physical upper airway examinations among snoring men and women investigated because of suspected sleep apnea.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The dimensions of the uvula, tonsils, velopharynx and tongue, and nasal septal deviation, mandibular position, neck circumference, weight, and height were systematically scored in 801 consecutive snoring patients (596 men and 205 women), who had been referred for a primary sleep apnea recording.

RESULTS: In men, large tonsils, a high tongue, and a wide uvula were independent factors associated with an apnea-hyopnea index of > 15. In women, large tonsils and mandibular retrognathia were independent factors associated with an apnea-hypopnea index of > 15. The positive predictive values for upper airway abnormalities ranged between 0.20 and 0.25 in men and between 0.09 and 0.15 in women.