Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40559324›Full record

ArticleNeurology international2025

Gender Differences in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Preliminary Clinical and Polysomnographic Investigation.

Alessandra Castelnuovo, Sara Marelli, Salvatore Mazzeo, Francesca Casoni, Paola Proserpio, Alessandro Oldani, Alessandro Bombaci, Elisa Bortolin, Giulia Bruschi, Federica Agosta and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Neurology international, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. The effect of gender on clinical characteristics and diagnostic process of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Alessandra CastelnuovoDepartment of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.
Sara MarelliSleep Disorders Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20127 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-0074-5371
Salvatore MazzeoDepartment of Neurology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.
Francesca CasoniSleep Disorders Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20127 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5086-8014
Paola ProserpioSleep Disorders Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20127 Milan, Italy.
Alessandro OldaniSleep Disorders Center, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20127 Milan, Italy.
Alessandro BombaciDepartment of Neurology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.
Elisa BortolinDepartment of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0009-0003-8766-8707
Giulia BruschiDepartment of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.
Federica AgostaDepartment of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.
Massimo FilippiDepartment of Neurology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-5485-0479
Luigi Ferini-StrambiDepartment of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-2867-5424
Maria SalsoneDepartment of Neurology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesGender differences influence the clinical manifestations, progression, and treatment response in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome, suggesting the existence of distinct gender-related phenotypes potentially driven by anatomical, physiological, and hormonal factors. However, the impact of gender on OSA-related cognitive profiles remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the neuropsychological and polysomnographic (PSG) differences between OSA females and males in order to detect the impact of gender on clinical manifestation and PSG features.

methodsData were collected from 28 OSA patients (14 females and 14 males matched for age, education, and disease severity). All patients performed a complete neuropsychological evaluation, Epworth sleepiness scale, and whole-night PSG. To evaluate the relationship between specific sleep profiles and cognitive performance, PSG parameters were correlated to scores obtained on neuropsychological tests.

resultsBoth male and female groups performed within the normal range across all administered neuropsychological tests, according to Italian normative values. Compared with OSA males, female patients showed significantly lower values on the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) Recall Test. By contrast, no significant statistical clinical difference emerged between the two OSA groups in terms of clinical manifestation and sleep parameters.

conclusionsThis study improves the knowledge on gender-related cognitive impairment in OSA patients. Our preliminary findings demonstrate that the ROCF Recall Test may be altered in OSA females, but not in males. Further longitudinal studies are needed to investigate whether OSA female patients will develop a frank dementia over time.

Indexed as

cognitiongenderobstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Identifiers

PMID40559324
PMCPMC12195948

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