Epidemiological studies reveal that women make up 25% of all obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients, yet only 11% of patients carrying OSA diagnoses are women. What drives this disparity? In this episode of the BackTable ENT Podcast, sleep surgeon and UCSF Associate Professor Dr. Megan Durr joins host Dr. Gopi Shah to discuss OSA in women.

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Medtronic ENT

https://www.medtronic.com/en-us/healthcare-professionals/specialties/ear-nose-throat.html

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SYNPOSIS

First, Dr. Durr recounts her path to sleep surgery, including her interest in women’s sleep issues, which grew out of discussions with her female friends experiencing pregnancy-related sleep disturbances. When asked why OSA is under-diagnosed in women, Dr. Durr underscores how women’s OSA symptoms – mental fog, memory issues, and insomnia – are relatively nonspecific. While it presents differently in women, OSA increases the risk of heart failure, hypertension, and dementia in all patients, regardless of sex. Then, Dr. Durr shares her physical exam and testing strategies to uncover OSA in female patients. Once diagnosed, she advocates multimodal treatment, including CPAP, weight loss, and surgery.

The podcast concludes with discussion of how ENTs can eliminate barriers to better sleep in women, underrepresented minorities, and low-income patients.

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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - Welcome to the BackTable ENT Podcast

03:06 - Dr. Megan Durr’s Background & Journey

08:15 - Challenges Diagnosing Sleep Apnea in Women

14:55 - Long-term Effects of Sleep Apnea in Women

20:06 - Hormonal Influences on Sleep Apnea

29:56 - CPAP & Oral Devices in Women with OSA

32:21 - Positional Therapy & Surgery in Women with OSA

36:34 - Weight Loss to Combat OSA

41:04 - Countering Disparities in OSA Treatment

48:06 - Identifying & Caring For “Unseen” OSA Patients: A Team Effort

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RESOURCES

Medtronic ENT

https://www.medtronic.com/us-en/healthcare-professionals/products/ear-nose-throat.html

Dr. Durr’s UCSF Profile:

https://ohns.ucsf.edu/megan-durr

Dr. Durr’s X:

https://x.com/drmegandurr