Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Adult Population of Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Hasna Saleh Albalawi, Abdulrahman Abdullah S. Alelyani, Leen Omar Al Gelban, Latifah Abdullah N. Alfaraj, Badr Mahmoud Ahmed, Dina Fahad Alshahrani, Abdulaziz A. Alhumam, Abdullah Mohammed Aldakhil, Abdullah Abdulaziz Alsuwayyid, Lina Nasreldin Ahmed, Nada Ibrahim A. Asiri, Hyder Osman MirghaniAbstract
Background:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common but often overlooked disorder with profound cardiometabolic and neurocognitive consequences. Various studies in Saudi Arabia have reported varying prevalence figures.
Objective:
To estimate the pooled prevalence of OSA among adults in Saudi Arabia.
Methods:
The systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out between May and August 2025 according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Observational studies that described the prevalence of OSA among adults (≥16 years) were considered. Pooled prevalence was computed using a random-effect model with Freeman–Tukey transformation. I 2 statistics were used to determine the heterogeneity. Subgroup analysis was undertaken according to population, diagnostic tool, size of the sample, and region.
Results:
Thirty-three studies with 18,403 participants were included. The overall pooled prevalence of OSA was 26.96% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.98%–33.38%), with high heterogeneity (
Conclusions:
About one in four Saudi adults may have OSA, with prevalence markedly higher in high-risk groups. These findings underscore the need for national screening programs and targeted interventions to reduce the burden of undiagnosed OSA.