Obstructive sleep apnea is thought to affect 4%-9% of middle-aged adults. But the condition is often undiagnosed and untreated. It's estimated that at least 10% of people over 65 have the condition. That's because aging affects the brain's ability to keep upper airway throat muscles stiff during sleep. This raises the chance that the airway will narrow or collapse.
Obstructive sleep apnea is up to four times as common in men as in women, but women are more likely to develop sleep apnea during pregnancy and after menopause. In older adults, the gender gap narrows after women reach menopause.