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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Sleep Sci 2019; 12(03): 222-226
DOI: 10.5935/1984-0063.20190081
SHORT COMMUNICATION

Increase in the frequency of obstructive sleep apnea in elderly people

Glenda Ernst
1   Hospital Británico, Scientific Advisory Committee, - Buenos Aires - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires - Argentina.
2   Hospital Británico, Respiratory Medicine - Buenos Aires - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires - Argentina.
,
Javier Mariani
1   Hospital Británico, Scientific Advisory Committee, - Buenos Aires - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires - Argentina.
,
Magali Blanco
3   Hospital Británico, Sleep Unit - Buenos Aires - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires - Argentina.
,
Barbara Finn
4   Hospital Británico, Internal Medicine - Buenos Aires - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires - Argentina.
,
Alejandro Salvado
2   Hospital Británico, Respiratory Medicine - Buenos Aires - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires - Argentina.
,
Eduardo Borsini
2   Hospital Británico, Respiratory Medicine - Buenos Aires - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires - Argentina.
3   Hospital Británico, Sleep Unit - Buenos Aires - Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires - Argentina.
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BACKGROUND The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases with age. However, older adults have limited perception of the symptoms related with poor sleep quality.

Objectives To know the frequency and characteristics of age-related OSA in a large population with clinical suspicion of sleep apnea.

Methods We conducted a retrospective study. OSA was studied by respiratory polygraphy (RP). Patients were grouped by age (G): GI was between 18-45; GII: 46-65 and GIII > 65 years old. Other demographic characteristics, symptoms and RP indicators were compared. Epworth Sleep Scale (ESS) was used to analyze symptoms.

Results We included 2491 patients with sleep apnea symptoms. OSA frequency (AHI > 15) in each group was 33.2 % in GI; 45.8 in GII and 50.3 in GIII (p < 0.001). Despite the significant increase in OSA severity, GIII group reported fewer symptoms (ESS: 6.0; p < 0.001). Multivariate adjusted analysis showed that the odds ratio of having OSA is three times as high at age > 65 (OR: 3.32 (2.29 - 4.88) p < 0.001).

Conclusions As in previous reports, OSA prevalence in our population was higher among the elderly. The early identification of this syndrome in a population with poor perception of symptoms would aid to improve patient management.

Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - Sleep Apnea Syndromes - Adult - Aged

Statement of Ethics

The protocol was approved by the Ethics and Review Committee at "Hospital Británico" in accordance with the ethical standards of Helsinki Declaration.


Author Contributions

Glenda Ernst and Javier Mariani wrote the manuscript and analyzed the results Magalí Blanco, Bárbara C Finn and Alejandro Salvado collaborated with data collection and manuscript writing. Eduardo Borsini to collaborate as supervisor from the all complete study and to write the manuscript.


Funding Sources

No funding was required to conduct this study.


Appendix

Supplementary Material We had no supplementary material




Publication History

Received: 16 January 2019

Accepted: 28 July 2019

Article published online:
31 October 2023

© 2023. Brazilian Sleep Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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