Snoring in Medical Students, Srinakharinwirot University

Abstract

Snoring in Medical Students, Srinakharinwirot University

Kittipong Kongsomboon MD, MBA, PhD*

Chairat Neruntarat MD**

* Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University

** Department of Opthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University

Objectives: To determine prevalence of snoring in medical students of Srinakharinwirot University, and the association between snoring and personal characteristics.

Methods: Cross-sectional analytic study was done during June to September, 2010. The following data were collected from medical students of academic year 4, 5, and 6 of Srinakharinwirot University: gender, age, academic year, body mass index (BMI), academic achievement (GPA), and underlying diseases. Snoring data, including its event and severity, were collected from self assessment and his/her roommate.

Results: From total of 358 medical students, 318 participated in the study. Mean age was 21.9 ฑ 1.0 years old. Female comprised 60.4% of participants, while 38.7% were male. Prevalence of snoring was 20.1%. Their roommates reported that the snoring was bothersome in 7.5% and the affected individual had sleep apnea in 4.1%. Factors significantly associated with snoring after adjusted for other factors were BMI and age, while gender, academic year, GPA and underlying allergic disease were not significantly associated. Medical students with BMI ณ 23 kg/m² had higher rate of snoring than medical students with BMI < 23 kg/m² (odds ratio = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.07-4.67). Snoring in medical students increased with increasing age (odds ratio = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.16-2.30).

Conclusion: Prevalence of snoring in medical students of Srinakharinwirot University was 20.1%. Older age and higher BMI were associated with snoring.

Keywords: medical student, snoring