Associations between alcohol consumption and sleep-disordered breathing among Japanese women.

BACKGROUND The associations between alcohol consumption and sleep-disordered breathing in women are uncertain. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 3113 women aged 30-69 years. The 3% oxygen desaturation index (3% ODI), based on overnight pulse oximetry findings, was selected as an indicator of sleep-disordered breathing. RESULTS 3% ODI frequencies of ≥5 were higher for drinking women with ethanol intakes of ≥23.0 g/d than for never drinkers: the respective multivariable odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals was 1.8(1.0-3.4). The corresponding odds ratio was 3.0(1.6-5.8) for habitual snoring. The associations of ethanol intakes of ≥23.0 g/d with 3% ODI ≥ 5 was more evident among women with BMI <23.0 kg/m(2) (median) than those with higher BMI but did not vary by habitual snoring. The multivariable odds ratios of 3%ODI ≥ 5 for women with ethanol intakes of ≥23.0 g/d versus never drinkers were 2.7(1.0-6.7) for lower BMI and 1.5(0.6-3.3) for higher BMI and the corresponding odds ratio were 2.8(1.6-7.2) and 3.2(1.3-7.9) for habitual snoring, respectively. CONCLUSION Alcohol consumption was associated with higher prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing among Japanese women.