Effects of age on the clinical features of men with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
BACKGROUND
There is little information on the differences in polysomnographic findings in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) between elderly and young or middle-aged adults.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to elucidate the clinical characteristics of elderly patients compared to young or middle-aged patients with OSAS.


METHODS
A total of 757 male patients who were found to have OSAS (apnea-hypopnea index, AHI > or = 5) were enrolled. After nocturnal polysomnography, patients also completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale.


RESULTS
The patients were divided into three groups: ages 20-44 (n = 254), ages 45-64 (n = 373), and ages 65-86 (n = 130). Body mass index (BMI) and the proportion of overweight patients (BMI > or =25) were lower in the elderly group (ages 65-84) than in the other age groups (all p < 0.01). However, in the elderly group, there was a significant correlation between AHI and BMI (r = 0.28, p < 0.01), and BMI was a significant determinant of AHI (beta = 0.30, p < 0.01). In addition, the elderly group showed a high percentage of apneas among apneas and hypopneas ( p = 0.02) and increased duration of apnea-hypopnea (p < 0.01) compared to the other age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the occurrence of OSAS in the elderly with low BMI, the influence of body weight on the severity of OSAS was still significant in elderly patients. Age-related high collapsibility of the upper airways could explain the higher percentage of apneas and longer duration of apnea-hypopnea in the elderly compared to young or middle-aged patients with OSAS.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Seockhoon
S
Chung
In-Young
IY
Yoon
Chul Hee
CH
Lee
Jeong-Whun
JW
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult