Silent Nights, Hidden Risks: An Observational Study on Sleep Apnea and Its Determinants in the Anand Population of Gujarat

Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common but underdiagnosed sleep-related breathing disorder characterised by recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep, leading to intermittent hypoxemia, poor sleep quality, and systemic complications. Its prevalence is increasing globally due to obesity, ageing, and lifestyle-related risk factors. Despite substantial global evidence, limited data exist regarding OSA risk profiles in Indian subpopulations, particularly within Gujarat. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and major risk determinants of sleep apnea among adults in Anand district. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Shri B.G. Patel College of Physiotherapy, Anand, involving 100 randomly selected adults aged 30–60 years from the general population. Participants underwent structured history-taking for demographic and lifestyle risk factors, including obesity, neck circumference, comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism), hereditary predisposition, stress, smoking, alcohol consumption, and nasal congestion. Objective assessments included Body Mass Index (BMI), body composition analysis, neck girth, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) to evaluate sleepiness and apnea risk. Statistical associations between risk factors and sleep apnea were analysed using the Chi-square test. Results: Among 100 participants (47 males, 53 females), 25% exhibited significant sleep apnea (ESS ≥ 8). Obesity was observed in 66% of subjects, higher neck girth in 36%, hypertension in 24%, and diabetes and hypothyroidism in 9% each. Chi-square analysis demonstrated significant associations between obesity (p = 0.04), hereditary predisposition (p = 0.004), and sleep apnea. Neck girth showed a strong linear association (p = 0.006), while diabetes, hypertension, smoking, alcohol, and stress showed non-significant but clinically relevant trends. The mean age was 48.28 ± 8.04 years, mean BMI 29.43 ± 4.53 kg/m², and mean ESS score 12.56 ± 3.20. Conclusion: This study highlights obesity and heredity as the strongest predictors of sleep apnea among the Anand population, with neck circumference emerging as an important screening parameter. Other comorbidities such as hypertension and diabetes may contribute to disease progression. The findings underscore the need for region-specific screening, awareness, and physiotherapy-based preventive interventions focusing on weight reduction, respiratory muscle training, and lifestyle modification.