Cai L, Huang L, Wei L, et al. - Researchers examined if and how estradiol is associated with sleep apnea among women with major depressive disorders during the perimenopausal and postmenopausal periods.

• A retrospective study of 84 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women diagnosed with depression, and who had been subjected to whole-night polysomnography (PSG).

• OSA was diagnosed in 45.23% of the women.

• Relative to OSA patients, non-OSA patients had significantly elevated estradiol levels.

• OSA was observed in correlation with low estradiol levels, higher Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores, higher apnea frequency and higher BMI, indicating their potential value as diagnostic markers for OSA in depressed perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.