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Screening for sleep apnoea risk in testosterone-treated transgender men

Publication at Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, First Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Arts |
2023

Abstract

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is more prevalent in men. Several studies suggested that higher testosterone levels were associated with a greater risk of OSA.

We aimed to determine whether testosterone administration in transgender men would accentuate symptoms of OSA. Methods: The study involved 94 adult people undergoing a female-to-male transition with testosterone administration.

The participants answered the Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) and a separate question on snoring before starting testosterone treatment and after at least 1 year of being on testosterone treatment. Results: A higher proportion of participants at the follow-up answered positively to the first category of BQ devoted to snoring.

A lower proportion of participants at follow-up answered positively to the second category of BQ devoted to tiredness. The percentage of subjects with a high risk of sleep apnoea, according to BQ, and of those who answered the question on snoring positively did not change significantly.

Conclusion: An increased number of transgender men who reported snoring in BQ after testosterone administration indicate a higher risk of OSA development.