Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Among Patients Admitted for Bariatric Surgery. A Prospective Multicentre Trial

Background Obesity has become one of the greatest public health concerns worldwide and is known to be the most important risk factor for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Prevalence of OSA has increased over the last two decades, but it is estimated that the majority of cases still remain undiagnosed. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of OSA in Finnish bariatric surgery candidates. Methods In this prospective multicentre study, standard overnight cardiorespiratory recording was conducted in 197 consecutive patients from three different hospitals. A sleep questionnaire was also administered. Anthropometric and demographic measurements included age, weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist and neck circumference. Results Altogether, 71 % of the patients were diagnosed with OSA. The prevalence was higher in males (90 %) than in females (60 %) ( p