A predisposition to adult snoring can be established very early in life. Research published today in BioMed Central's open access journal Respiratory Research describes possible childhood risk factors, including exposure to animals, early respiratory or ear infections, and growing up in a large family.

Being hospitalized for a respiratory infection before the age of 2 years, suffering from recurrent ear infections as a child, growing up in a large family, and being exposed to a dog at home as a newborn were all independently related to snoring in later life. The authors speculate, "These factors may enhance inflammatory processes and thereby alter upper airway anatomy early in life, causing an increased susceptibility for adult snoring."

The authors conclude, "These new findings suggest that further knowledge about the early life environment may contribute to the primary prevention of snoring."