Sex-difference in chewing difficulty and the risk of obstructive sleep apnea among middle-aged and older adults.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Chewing difficulty may reflect orofacial factors linked to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk, yet evidence remains limited, especially regarding sex differences. This study examined the association between perceived chewing difficulty and OSA risk according to sex.

Methods

The study used five-year (2019-2023) data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, including 16,105 participants aged ≥ 40 years (6,965 males and 9,140 females). Chewing difficulty was assessed on a five-level scale, and OSA risk was determined using the STOP-Bang questionnaire. A significant interaction between sex and chewing difficulty (p = 0.0387) in the model prompted sex-stratified analyses. Multivariable and multinomial logistic regression models were used to estima

SUBMITTER: Lim JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12812091 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature