Investigating how sleep-disordered breathing varies at night and its effects on men and women.

Night- to-Night Variability in Sleep Disordered Breathing: Sex and Gender-Related Predictors and Impact on Obstructive Sleep Apnea Clinical Heterogeneity

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10991215

This study is looking at how sleep apnea can change from night to night and how it affects men and women differently, especially since women often don’t get diagnosed as often; if you join, you'll use special sleep monitors at home for a week and share how you feel during the day to help find better ways to diagnose and treat this condition.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-10991215 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how sleep-disordered breathing, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), varies from night to night and how this variability affects individuals differently based on sex and gender. The study aims to identify reliable biomarkers for OSA severity that can improve diagnosis and treatment, especially for women who are often underdiagnosed. Participants will use advanced sleep monitoring technology in their homes over a week, while also providing information about their daytime functioning through regular assessments. By analyzing data from 300 participants, the research seeks to uncover important differences in how OSA impacts men and women.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include adults diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, particularly women and those experiencing symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing.

Not a fit: Patients without a diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea or those who do not experience sleep-disordered breathing may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, particularly for women, reducing their risk of associated health issues.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has indicated that sex and gender differences significantly affect the presentation and severity of obstructive sleep apnea, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Affective Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.