ABSTRACT
Hrayr Attarian Department of Neurology, Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Research Lab, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
Corresponding author: Hrayr Attarian, E-mail: hattaria@nm.org
ABSTRACT
There are clear sex based physiological differences in both normal sleep and the pathogenesis of sleep disorders. The hormonal changes that occur during a woman’s life span significantly impact both normal sleep patterns and risk and presentation of sleep disorders. The prevalence of sleep disorders and its symptomatology exhibit clear sex based differences. For instance, chronic insomnia and sleep disordered breathing (SDB) both sex specific incidences and variable presentations. The impact of restless legs syndrome (RLS) on pregnancy health and fetal outcomes has only been recently explored. Recent data has also shown increased risk of endometrial cancer in shift working women. The incidence of comorbidities and the therapeutic responses to various pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions also show gender and sex differences. The
doses of some sleep aids such as zolpidem are different for women and men as is the prevalence of depression and its association with CPAP noncompliance.
