Snoring Highest Among Middle-Aged Women

A new study finds that habitual snoring in women is strongly tied to body mass index (BMI) and age, with snoring prevalence reaching its peak in women ages 50 to 59. Swedish researchers surveyed 6,817 women regarding snoring habits and potential risk factors for snoring, including BMI, smoking habits, physical activity, alcohol and medication use, and menopausal and hormonal status. The total prevalence for snoring was 7.6 percent, with the highest prevalence among women ages 50 to 59 (14 percent) and the lowest prevalence among women under age 40 and over age 80. Habitual snoring was found to increase with a higher BMI. Alcohol dependence was associated with snoring in lean women, while physical inactivity was associated with snoring in women with a high BMI. Overall, snorers were significantly older, had a higher mean BMI, had higher neck and waist circumferences, were more often smokers, and were less physically active than non-snorers. The study appears in the April issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians.