Association between snoring frequency and male serum testosterone: Findings from the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to assess the association between snoring frequency and male serum testosterone levels.

Methods: We analyzed data from the 2015 to 2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Snoring frequency was relied on self-report, and was divided into never, rarely (1-2 nights a week), occasionally (3-4 nights a week), or frequently (5 or more nights a week) groups. Multivariable analysis controlling for age, race, waist circumference, total cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension was used to evaluate the association between snoring frequency and male serum testosterone. Furthermore, we performed the subgroup analyses stratified by age and waist circumference.

Results: Our analysis included 1900 participants. In the fully adjusted model, only frequent snoring was inversely associated with male serum testosterone (β -0.053, 95% CI -0.101 to -0.006, P = 0.028); According to the subgroup analysis stratified by age, only in 40-59 years group, frequent snoring was inversely associated with male serum testosterone in the fully adjusted model (β -0.113, 95% CI -0.196 to -0.031, P = 0.007). As for the subgroup analysis stratified by waist circumference, our results showed only in the waist circumference ≥102 cm group (abdominal obesity), frequent snoring was inversely associated with male serum testosterone (β -0.133, 95% CI -0.216 to -0.05, P = 0.002).

Conclusions: Frequent snoring (5 or more nights a week) is inversely associated with male serum testosterone levels, especially in those aged 40-59 years and those with abdominal obesity.

Keywords: Male; Snoring; Testosterone; The national health and nutrition examination survey.