Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Gulf Countries - A literature review

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a medical condition distinguished by repetitive occurrences of the partial or complete blockage of the upper airway while an individual is asleep. This obstruction leads to a decrease in airflow, known as hypopnea, or a complete absence of airflow, known as apnea, lasting for a minimum of 10 seconds. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), it was found that 33% of middle-aged males and 39% of middle-aged women were identified as having a high risk of OSA. OSA exhibits a higher occurrence in males, with an estimated prevalence of 4% in men compared to 2% in women, resulting in a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. This condition has been identified as a significant factor leading to diminished quality of life and poor work productivity. The overall knowledge level was determined to be low for 80.7% of the Saudi population in a recent study on awareness of OSA and the factors that determine their awareness level. As a result, there is a level of awareness that has to be improved and addressed in Gulf countries. Thus, the present review discusses the distinct features of OSA and focuses on its prevalence in the countries included in the Gulf Corporation Council(GCC).