Joyce Ann Sacalamitao,1 Vilmarie Baez,1 Julie Yurie Takishima-Lacasa,1 Nadia Paige,1 Tracy Trevorrow1
1 Hawaiʻi School of Professional Psychology, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Honolulu, HI
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to increased risk of cardiovascular, metabolic, and psychological disorders. This study examined the relationship between ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, and OSA diagnosis among 230 adults in Hawaiʻi. Obesity is the greatest risk factor for developing OSA. Native Hawaiians and Pacific Island (NHPI) groups may be at greater risk than other ethnic groups for developing OSA given consistently higher rates of obesity than other ethnic groups. Currently, there is a paucity of published studies examining rates of OSA among NHPI populations.
Participants were evaluated for OSA by polysomnography at a sleep disorders clinic in Honolulu, Hawaii. A total of 44 participants identified as Hawaiian and/or Pacific Islander. No significant association between ethnicity and OSA diagnosis was found (or expected given that this clinical sample was previously screened for suspected OSA). The NHPI group showed the highest BMI across ethnicities. BMI positively correlated with neck circumference but not in all ethnic groups. Regression analysis did not identify significant predictors of OSA status when adjusting for confounders (Age, Sex, BMI, Neck Circumference, Income, and Ethnicity).
These findings suggest that BMI may serve as a more reliable indicator of OSA risk than neck circumference in certain ethnicities. The results underscore the complex relationship between physiological and sociocultural factors in sleep health and emphasize the importance of integrating culturally responsive sleep assessments into psychological practice. Further research is needed among community samples to establish whether NHPI have relatively higher prevalence of OSA compared to other ethnic groups.
