[Unexplained confusion in the aged as a sequela of central sleep apnea syndrome--a case report].
Central sleep apnoea syndromes (cSAS) represent a heterogeneous group of sleep-related disorders of breathing during sleep. cSAS may develop in the course of neurological syndromes or congestive heart failure. Frequency increases with age. A case of a 89-year old man is reported who was sent to hospital because of a state of confusion. He fell asleep all day with periods of restlessness during night. Sleep-related apnoeas could already be observed during daytime. Cardiopulmonary daytime diagnostics did not reveal any abnormal findings. Polysomnographic measurements, however, showed an apnoea-hypopnoea index of 37.8 apnoeas/hypopnoeas per hour with predominantly central apnoeas. Pernasal application of 1 litre of oxygen per minute during sleep normalised breathing patterns, daytime sleepiness, and the nighttime states of confusion stopped. Consequently, sleep-related disorders of breathing have to be considered in the differential diagnostics of unclear states of confusion in old age. In these cases polysomnography is indicated even in geriatric patients.
Rasche
K
K
Abteilung für Pneumologie und Allergologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum.
Orth
M
M
Schultze-Werninghaus
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003221:Confusion / Q000209:etiology*; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis
Unklarer Verwirrtheitszustand im Alter als Folge eines zentralen Schlafapnoesyndroms--Eine Kasuistik.