[Sleep apnoea in patients of elderly: care activity in Spain (2002-2008)].
OBJECTIVE
There is a significant lack of scientific evidence on the role of SAHS in the elderly despite the increasing ageing of the population. The objective of the present study is to analyse the current healthcare situation in Spain on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea in the population ≥65 years and its progress over the last few years.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Healthcare information was collected on the diagnosis and treatment of patients of both sexes and ≥65 years suspected with having SAHS and referred to sleep units (SU) between 2002 and 2008.


RESULTS
There were 51,229 sleep studies performed in 16 SU. Of these, 24.3% were performed on subjects ≥ 65 years (64.9% males), of which 71.5% had an AHI (apnoea-hypopnoea index) >10 (68.6% treated with CPAP). There were no differences over time as regards mean age, mean AHI or percentage of studies done. A significant decrease was observed in the number of CPAP prescribed to males ≥65 years from 2002 to 2005 (p=0.01) which subsequently increased up to 2008 (p=0.01). This phenomenon was not observed in women ≥65 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the lack of evidence on the subject, healthcare activity due to suspected SAHS in the elderly population is intense, therefore it should be a priority to start clinical studies that may be able to answer key questions on the diagnosis and treatment of SAHS in this age group.
Martínez-García
Miguel Ángel
MÁ
Hospital General de Requena, Valencia, España. miangel@comv.es
Amilibia
Jose
J
Chiner
Eusebi
E
Queipo
Carlos
C
Díaz de Atauri
Mariá Josefa
MJ
Carmona-Bernal
Carmen
C
Mayos
Merçé
M
García-Río
Francisco
F
Hernández Blasco
Luís
L
Grau
Nuria
N
Mosteiro
Mar
M
Durán-Cantolla
Joaquín
J
González-Mangado
Nicolás
N
Somoza
María
M
Zamora
Enrique
E
Fernández-Jorge
María Ángeles
MÁ
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D013030:Spain