Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study examines the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea severity, sleep position, and body weight, particularly focusing on the negative impact of sleeping in a supine position combined with being overweight in a population-based sample. METHODS: The Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) was utilized as a marker of OSA severity and sleep position from a standardized overnight polysomnography. Participants were categorized by body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)) into normal weight/underweight (<25) and overweight (≥25). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated a higher mean Apnea-Hypopnea Index for those sleeping in the supine position compared to other positions, with overweight individuals experiencing a proportionally greater impact from sleep position than their normal-weight counterparts.