Prevalence of sleep disordered breathing and sleep apnea in 50- to 70-year-old individuals. A survey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) in a general population aged from 50 to 70 years.


METHODS
We recruited 76 individuals aged between 50 and 70 years, chosen at random from the electoral census. They were invited to the clinic where a detailed medical history was taken and physical examination, ENT examination, pulmonary function tests and night time recording of respiratory variables performed.


RESULTS
The prevalence of SDB (apnea-hypopnea index >/= 5) was 28.9%, and there were no differences between men (28%) and women (30%). However, the prevalence of SAS was 6.8%, and there were differences between men (5 cases) and women (0 cases) (p = 0.0521). Subjects in the SDB group had higher systolic blood pressure than in the non-SDB group (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
SDB and SAS are common among 50- to 70-year olds. The prevalence of SDB was 28.9% and the prevalence of SAS was 6.8%.
Zamarrón
C
C
Division of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital General de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. mecarza@usc.es
Gude
F
F
Otero
Y
Y
Alvarez
J M
JM
Golpe
A
A
Rodriguez
J R
JR
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires