XXXX : Comparison of Syndrome Severity and Risk Factors for Adult Jewish and Arab Males in Northern Israel.

@entity1 @entity387 @entity26 @entity27 @entity386
Background: @entity27 ( @entity27 ) is a common health problem with an estimated prevalence of 4% among @entity1 , many of whom are undiagnosed and untreated. OBJECTIVES: To compare demographic characteristics, health profiles, risk factors, and disease severity in Arab and Jewish @entity1 with @entity27 . METHODS: In this cross-sectional study we retrospectively analyzed clinical data from the medical files of @entity1 >=  22 years old who were referred to the Rambam Medical Center sleep clinic during the period 2001-2009 with a suspected diagnosis of @entity27 . @entity27 severity was measured using the @entity386 - @entity387 index (AHI). Categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test. Relations between @entity27 severity and a set of independent risk factors were assessed by linear regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 207 @entity1 were included (39 Arabs, 19%; 168 Jews, 81%). Arab @entity1 were younger than their Jewish counterparts (45.5    8.9 years vs. 49.8    11.8, P = 0.04) and their body mass index (BMI) was higher (3.1    5.1 vs. 30.0    4.4, P = 0.001). @entity27 severity (AHI score) was higher among Arab @entity1 , with low, medium and high severity scores seen in 10%, 33% and 56% of Arab @entity1 vs. 35%, 29% and 37% of Jewish @entity1 , respectively [T(198) = 2.39, P = 0.02]. Mean blood @entity26 saturation was comparable. CONCLUSIONS: Arab @entity1 presenting for evaluation of @entity387 harbored more severe @entity27 symptoms, were younger, and had higher BMI compared to Jewish @entity1 . Since @entity27 evolves for several years until it becomes severe, these findings suggest that Arab @entity1 seek medical assistance later than Jewish @entity1 with @entity27 .
