Risk for sleep apnea syndrome in Pakistan: a cross-sectional survey utilizing the Berlin questionnaire

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of individuals at high risk for developing obstructive sleep apnea in the Pakistani population using a validated questionnaire. Materials and methods This is a cross-sectional survey using a pre-validated, interviewer-administered questionnaire conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital. All healthy individuals above 18 years of age attending a seminar were included as participants after consent. Results The percentage of people in the high-risk group was calculated to be 12.4% out of a population of 137. Presence of snoring, hypertension, and body mass index >27.5 kg/m 2 was found to be more prevalent in high-risk individuals. Conclusions A significant proportion of the population is at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.