ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to elucidate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and snoring time (ST) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) using a portable sleep monitoring device. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: From May 2011 to December 2015, 492 patients whose apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was more than 5 were enrolled. Subjects were classified into 3 groups on the basis of the AHI (mild=5≤AHI<15; moderate=15≤AHI<30; severe=30≤AHI). Using the multiple linear regression analysis, the relationship between ST and other variables (BMI, arousal index, O2 desaturation events, age and AHI) were measured in each group. RESULTS: There was significant association between ST and BMI, especially in the severe group (p=0.005). CONCLUSION: In the severe group, reducing BMI is important to improve ST.