Abstract Introduction Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is a chromosomal condition marked by hypogonadism and disturbances in hormonal regulation. The relationship between KS and co-occurring sleep disorders has not been extensively characterized, creating a need for more detailed investigation. Methods We identified individuals with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) evaluated at our institution between January 2000 and December 2025 using ICD-9 and ICD-10-CM codes. Electronic health records were then manually reviewed to confirm KS status and to exclude miscoded entries. For confirmed cases, we extracted data on sleep-related complaints, diagnoses, diagnostic testing (overnight oximetry, polysomnography, home sleep testing), and treatment. Sleep disorders were categorized operationally: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), central sleep apnea (CSA), insomnia, hypersomnia/narcolepsy, or other according to documented clinician diagnosis or diagnostic test results. When structured Sleep Center data were available, these were included. We summarized cohort characteristics using means (± SD) or medians (interquartile range) as appropriate. For comparison between subgroups (e.g., those with vs without documented sleep-disordered breathing), we applied Welch’s t-test and binomial proportion tests. Analyses were conducted using Python scripts and spreadsheet software. Results Nearly one-third of patients with confirmed KS in this series had either diagnosed or suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), substantially exceeding prevalence estimates in the general population. The frequency of central sleep apnea (CSA) was comparable to that seen in the general population, however its occurrence without usual predisposing factors suggests a predisposition toward idiopathic CSA in KS. Circadian rhythm disorders were rare, occurring in 1% of the cohort. Notably, nearly 75% of KS patients with documented sleep-related symptoms had never undergone formal evaluation in a Sleep Center. Conclusion The observed rate of presumed idiopathic CSA among individuals with KS suggests the possibility of KS-specific mechanisms affecting ventilatory control stability. Additionally, there appeared to be a larger prevalence of OSA in this patient population. Notably, approximately three-quarters of KS patients who reported sleep-related symptoms had never undergone a formal Sleep Medicine assessment, highlighting a significant gap in structured evaluation that may relate to limited access to specialized care, referral patterns, or other systemic barriers, and warrants additional study. Support (if any) None
Ahmed et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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