Introduction: Nasal resistance has frequently been associated with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). However, the role of nasal resistance in SDB is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between nasal resistance and SDB by examination of polysomnography and rhinomanometry in a large sample of Korean adults. Methods: Subjects were enrolled from a cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. They were evaluated by anthropometry, questionnaire, polysomnography and active anterior rhinomanometry at a transnasal pressure of 150 Pascal (Pa). Results: The study sample consisted of 2,857 healthy subjects (1,428 women and 1,429 men) aged 40 to 80 years. Among them, 613 (21.5%) were habitual snorers defined as episodes of snoring 4 or more days per week. Non-obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was found in 723 (25.3%), mild OSA in 1,521 (53.2%) and moderate to severe OSA in 613 (21.5%) subjects. Total nasal resistance (TNR) was significantly higher in the habitual snoring group (0.238±0.004 Pa/cm3/sec) than the non-habitual snoring group (0.216±0.004 Pa/cm3/sec; P<0.001) after adjustment for age, gender, height, weight and smoking status. However, TNR was not significantly different from moderate to severe OSA group (0.229±0.006 Pa/cm3/sec) and none to mild OSA group (0.220±0.003 Pa/cm3/sec; P=0.383). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that snoring is associated with an increase in nasal resistance. However, increased nasal resistance was not associated with OSA.Introduction: Nasal resistance has frequently been associated with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). However, the role of nasal resistance in SDB is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between nasal resistance and SDB by examination of polysomnography and rhinomanometry in a large sample of Korean adults. Methods: Subjects were enrolled from a cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. They were evaluated by anthropometry, questionnaire, polysomnography and active anterior rhinomanometry at a transnasal pressure of 150 Pascal (Pa). Results: The study sample consisted of 2,857 healthy subjects (1,428 women and 1,429 men) aged 40 to 80 years. Among them, 613 (21.5%) were habitual snorers defined as episodes of snoring 4 or more days per week. Non-obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was found in 723 (25.3%), mild OSA in 1,521 (53.2%) and moderate to severe OSA in 613 (21.5%) subjects. Total nasal resistance (TNR) was significantly higher in the habitual snoring group (0.238±0.004 Pa/cm3/sec) than the non-habitual snoring group (0.216±0.004 Pa/cm3/sec; P<0.001) after adjustment for age, gender, height, weight and smoking status. However, TNR was not significantly different from moderate to severe OSA group (0.229±0.006 Pa/cm3/sec) and none to mild OSA group (0.220±0.003 Pa/cm3/sec; P=0.383). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that snoring is associated with an increase in nasal resistance. However, increased nasal resistance was not associated with OSA.