Abstract
BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can have serious health consequences if left untreated, including an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Raising awareness about this condition can help reduce the stigma surrounding sleep disorders and encourage individuals to seek help if they suspect they may have OSA. It is important for the general population to be informed about this condition in order to promote better overall health and well-being. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of knowledge of OSA among the general population of Arar, Northern region of Saudi Arabia. METHODOLOGY: This study is a cross-sectional descriptive study to assess the knowledge of OSA in the general population in the northern region of Saudi Arabia. We used an online self-administered questionnaire to collect sociodemographic data and questions about the subject's awareness. RESULTS: Four hundred thirty-nine individuals participated in this study. The majority of them 337 (76.8%) were female. About 181 (41.2%) of the studied participants were in the age category of 15-25 years and 66.3% had heard about sleep apnea. Nearly 316 (72%) reported that sleep apnea is considered dangerous. Snoring, low sleep quality, and coughing were the main symptoms of sleep apnea. Moreover, obesity, smoking, and chronic diseases were the main causes of sleep apnea, according to the participants' knowledge. About 37 (8.4%) of participants said that they were diagnosed with sleep apnea, and 30 (6.8%) of them revealed that sleep apnea affected their quality of life. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of OSA in Saudi Arabia is considered inadequate. General population knowledge of OSA can be improved through a multi-faceted approach that involves public education campaigns, continuous medical education for healthcare professionals, and policy-level interventions.