What demographic factors can complicate sleep disorders?

The correct choice highlights that age, obesity, and gender are significant demographic factors that can complicate sleep disorders.

Age is a crucial factor because sleep patterns change as individuals grow older. For example, older adults might experience a decrease in deep sleep and various sleep disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnea, become more prevalent.

Obesity is closely linked to several sleep disorders, notably obstructive sleep apnea, where excess weight can lead to an increase in the amount of fatty tissue surrounding the neck, ultimately leading to airway obstruction during sleep.

Gender also plays a role; for instance, men are generally more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, while women are more prone to insomnia and other mood-related sleep issues, especially related to hormonal changes associated with menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.

While the other factors listed, such as income level, education, geography, smoking, caffeine, exercise habits, family history, ethnicity, and occupation, can influence sleep quality and may contribute to the prevalence of sleep disorders, the combination of age, obesity, and gender directly impacts the physiological and hormonal mechanisms that govern sleep, making them particularly relevant in discussing complications related to sleep disorders.