11 UARS Statistics You Should Remember –
Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS) is similar to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) where the soft tissue in the throat relaxes, reduces the airway size, and results in disturbed sleep, daytime impairment, and daytime sleepiness. The increase in upper airway resistance is not enough to meet the criteria of OSA, and the brief awakening is often undetected by the person with UARS.
The signs and symptoms of airway resistance are similar to OSA but less in severity. People with UARS complain of daytime sleepiness, unrefreshing sleep, snoring, and cognitive impairment.
Untreated UARS can evolve into OSA. To help prevent this from happening, here are 11 UARS statistics that you should remember.
How many people have Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome?
Since UARS is still not a fully recognized problem, the number of affected people is still yet to be determined. However, it is estimated that almost 15% of the population is affected.
What is the ratio in terms of UARS prevalence between men and women?
UARS affects men and women equally with a 1:1 ratio.
Is weight a risk factor for UARS?
No, weight is not a risk factor. The mean Body Mass Index of people with UARS is 25 kg/m2.
Does it affect pregnant women?
Yes, it affects women in the third trimester of their pregnancy. It is estimated that 28% of pregnant women who snore can be affected by UARS.
Does UARS affect the blood pressure of the person with the disorder?
Yes, UARS affects the blood pressure of the person with the disorder. 23% of people with UARS have low blood pressure. Their blood pressure is sometimes dangerously low.
What is the common age of people who have UARS?
The mean age for people with UARS is 37.5 years old.
Is Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome harder to diagnose than sleep apnea?
Yes, UARS is more difficult to diagnose than OSA. Untreated UARS is similar to or even worse than untreated sleep apnea. It is also connected with other diseases, making it more difficult to diagnose. It is linked to Chronic Myofascial Pain where more than 35% of people with UARS have Fibromyalgia. All adults with UARS are also teeth grinders.
How long does a UARS episode last?
People with Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome stop breathing in sleep and wake up after 1 to 9 seconds.
Does Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome affect children as well?
Yes, children can also have UARS. UARS is more common in children than OSA. The estimated number of children who snores and may have UARS is 3 to 12%.
What age is considered the most crucial for children who have UARS?
UARS affects children of all age groups. However, school-aged children around 6 to 12 years old can start to experience pain symptoms and headaches as well.
How many treatment options are available for UARS?
There are 2 available treatments for UARS. Due to the collapsibility of the windpipe during a UARS episode, decreasing the resistance of the airflow in the upper airway is needed to have lesser negative pressure build-up and stronger windpipe.
The two treatments available are CPAP and using oral appliance therapy.
Do you have other UARS statistics not mentioned above that you can share with us? Write them in the comment section below.