title: [Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in the elderly].
abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common disease in the general population. However, original works on the SAHS in the elderly are few and their results are discordant. Studies show an increased prevalence of OSAHS with age, and despite this high prevalence, it remains under-diagnosed due to lack of knowledge of geriatric features of this disease and the frequency of comorbidities that may worsen as a result of nocturnal breathing problems but can also mask the symptoms necessary for positive diagnosis. The functional symptoms are dominated by neurological signs such as daytime hypersomnia and cognitive impairment often reported by those around the patient. The treatment is based mainly on continuous positive airway pressure which tolerance in elderly patients suffering from sleep apnea is similar to that of younger patients. Mandibular implants can be discussed depending on the severity of the condition. Surgical treatment is not indicated because of the increased frequency of complications.
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumo-allergologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie. Electronic address: wajdi.ketata@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ketata
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumo-allergologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Feki
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumo-allergologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yangui
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumo-allergologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Msaad
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumo-allergologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayoub
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Comorbidities; Comorbidités; Continuous positive airway pressure; Elderly; Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; Pression positive continue; Sujet âgé; Syndrome d’apnées obstructives du sommeil