Consequences of comorbid insomnia symptoms and sleep-related breathing disorder in elderly subjects.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD) and insomnia symptoms increases considerably with advancing age, but little is known about their cooccurrence and their effects on daytime functioning when present together.


METHODS
Older adults with (cases, n = 99) and without (controls, n = 100) symptoms of insomnia underwent 2 nights of in-laboratory polysomnography, daytime nap, and neurobehavioral testing and completed study questionnaires. Predictors of SRBD were identified (apnea-hypopnea index [indicating number of events per hour], > or =15). Participants were divided into 4 groups--with and without insomnia and with and without SRBD--and the groups were compared on measures of daytime functioning.


RESULTS
Cases had a lower rate of SRBD (29.3%) than controls (38.0%). Body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 30 or higher, neck circumference greater than 15.5 inches, and a history of "loud snoring" or "stops breathing, chokes, or struggles for breath" were independently predictive of SRBD in participants with insomnia symptoms. Having both insomnia symptoms and SRBD was associated with significantly lower daytime functioning and longer psychomotor reaction times compared with having neither condition.


CONCLUSIONS
Because insomnia comorbid with SRBD is associated with the greatest functional impairment, and SRBD is commonly found in the elderly population, health care providers should also consider SRBD in elderly patients with insomnia symptoms.
Gooneratne
Nalaka S
NS
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104, USA. ngoonera@mail.med.upenn.edu
Gehrman
Philip R
PR
Nkwuo
J Emeka
JE
Bellamy
Scarlett L
SL
Schutte-Rodin
Sharon
S
Dinges
David F
DF
Pack
Allan I
AI
D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D015143:Philadelphia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017286:Polysomnography; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012913:Snoring / Q000453:epidemiology