Clinical characteristics and associated factors of self-reported catathrenia: A web-based survey of 176 Chinese adults.

PURPOSE: To investigate the demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, aggravating and relieving factors, family history, healthcare-seeking behavior and daytime impairment of Chinese patients with catathrenia using a web-based survey.

METHODS

We identified users who self-reported symptoms of catathrenia on Zhihu.com and invited them to complete an online questionnaire.

RESULT: Among the 176 self-reported patients with groaning, the male to female ratio was 1:2.91, and the onset age was 17.59 ± 5.32 years. The BMI is 20.64 ± 2.78 kg/m2. The groaning phenomenon is first notice by others in 86.9% subjects. Mental stress aggravate the groaning phenomenon in 54.55% subjects and mental relaxation alleviate it in 27.84%. 71.02% subjects report it worsening roommate or bed partner relationship. More than 60% subjects report they groans > 3 days per week. 13.64% subjects report a family history, include 2.27% of father and 5.68% of mother. Notably, sex differences emerged in psychological dimensions: males were more likely to report mental stress as an aggravating factor (73% vs. 48%, p < 0.05) and anxiety or depression (35% vs. 14%, p < 0.05). mental relaxation was reported as a relieving factor in 40% of males and 23% of females (p = 0.053).

CONCLUSION

This web-based survey reveals a strong female predominance and a notable familial aggregation, particularly maternal. Importantly, male patients appear more psychologically vulnerable to stress-related exacerbation and mood disturbances, highlighting the need for sex-specific psychosocial support. These findings provide preliminary insights into the clinical features of catathrenia in Chinese population, though objective diagnostic verification is warranted in future studies.