Snoring: Are there reliable parameters for evaluation?

Solid parameters for the evaluation of snoring are missing, the snorer himself cannot provide a reliable assessment and it is not certain whether one can rely on the statements of the bed partner. It was therefore examined whether and how well the evaluation of snoring by acoustic parameters and the statements of the bed partner agree.

In a placebo-controlled, double-blind snoring therapy study, acoustic parameters (snoring index [SI], snoring time percentage [ST], sound pressure level, sound energy, loudness, psychoacoustic annoyance [PA] and psychoacoustic snore score [PSS]) were determined in 24 polygraphs in 18 subjects. In addition, the bed partner evaluated the annoyance and the volume of snoring, as well as the success of the therapy.

There was no correlation between the subjective annoyance caused by snoring and the acoustic parameters. With regard to the perceived loudness, there was a moderate, significant correlation to the loudness (N5) and the PSS over the hour with the highest SI. SI, ST, LAeq and the maximum sound pressure level showed no significant correlation. After the intervention, only the mean sound energy LAeq over the whole night showed a significant correlation (rs= 0.782; p = 0.022) to the assessment of the bed partner. However, this result could not be confirmed in the second control night.

The absence or weak correlation between the bed partner's assessments and the objective parameters suggests that the severity of snoring must be carefully assessed. The acoustic parameters and the statements of the bed partner should therefore always be seen in combination.

Poster-PDF A-1401.PDF

Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020