Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Primary snoring is traditionally considered a benign condition. However, emerging evidence suggests that it may be associated with subtle disturbances in sleep architecture. Data on the effects of primary snoring on sleep architecture and nocturnal oxygenation, as assessed by full polysomnography, remain limited and inconsistent. To evaluate sleep architecture and oxygen saturation parameters in individuals with primary snoring using full-night polysomnography, excluding patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This retrospective study analyzed overnight polysomnographic recordings of individuals diagnosed with primary snoring. Participants with obstructive sleep apnea were excluded based on standard apnea–hypopnea index thresholds. Sleep architecture parameters, including sleep stage distribution and wake after sleep onset (WASO), indices of sleep fragmentation, respiratory event characteristics, and nocturnal oxygen saturation were assessed. Primary snoring was associated with significant alterations in sleep architecture, characterized by reductions in slow-wave (N3) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and an increase in wake after sleep onset (WASO). No significant increase in conventional sleep fragmentation indices was observed. Despite the absence of obstructive sleep apnea, primary snoring was associated with an increased number of obstructive respiratory events and a reduction in mean nocturnal oxygen saturation. Primary snoring is associated with altered sleep architecture and nocturnal hypoxia, even in the absence of obstructive sleep apnea. Reductions in N3 and REM sleep may represent potential mechanisms linking snoring to sympathetic activation, elevated blood pressure, and increased cardiovascular risk, as well as impaired emotional regulation and memory processing. The observed intermittent hypoxia, although milder than that seen in obstructive sleep apnoea, may have pathophysiological significance. Further prospective studies are needed to evaluate the long-term clinical impact of alterations in sleep architecture and low-grade intermittent hypoxia in individuals with primary snoring.</p>