Self-reported high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in agricultural rural areas in Greece

Background Few studies have assessed questionnaire-based high risk for OSA in agricultural areas of Greece. We aimed to assess the questionnaire-based OSA risk and to evaluate awareness of OSA and sleep study among adults living in rural and semi-rural areas of Thessaly. Methods We included residents of Elassona and Galanovrisi, a semi-rural and rural Thessaly area. The STOP BANG questionnaire (SBQ), the Berlin questionnaire (BQ), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were used to evaluate the risk for OSA. Spirometry was also performed for early diagnosis of COPD. Results The total population was 400 adults with a mean age (SD) of 48.3(16.6). It was found that 32.0% were at high-risk according to the SBQ, and 18.8% according to the BQ. Moreover, 15.8% of participants had daytime sleepiness. Only 31% had knowledge about OSA, and 24.2% were familiar with the term "sleep study”. Self-reported high risk of OSA may be positively associated with alcohol consumption, frequent café visits, and the use of indoor wood- or oil-heating stoves, while a higher educational level was inversely associated with questionnaire-based OSA risk. Conclusions In rural areas of Thessaly, a significant percentage of community dwellers was found to be at self-reported high risk for OSA, while their awareness about OSA was low. Alcohol consumption, frequent café visits, and use of indoor heating stoves were associated with questionnaire-based OSA risk in univariable analyses. Appropriate questionnaires help identify self-reported high-risk OSA individuals in rural areas and highlight factors that may affect the risk.