Gender differences in sleep disorders
Current Opinion in Pulmonary MedicinePublished 18 October 2006
Vidya Krishnan, Nancy A. Collop
Citations470
SJR quartileQ2
SJR score0.81
SNIP0.72
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TL;DR
Gender differences in sleep become apparent after the onset of puberty, with women having better sleep quality compared with men, with longer sleep times, shorter sleep-onset latency and higher sleep efficiency.
Abstract
Gender differences in sleep become apparent after the onset of puberty. Menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause can alter sleep architecture. Gender-related differences in sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome, include differences in prevalence, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and response to therapy.
Keywords
PsychologyMedicineNeuroscience
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