title: High incidence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in patients with late-onset epilepsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with late-onset epilepsy (LOE) who were considered at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Polysomnography was performed on 27 patients with LOE. Berlin questionnaires and Epworth sleepiness score were performed on all patients. We compared clinical, demographic and anthropometric characteristics, questionnaire scores on the patients with no or mild OSA (group 1) and the patients with moderate or severe OSA (group 2). Patients eligible for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy were reviewed in consultation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four patients (88.9%) had OSA and 55.6% had moderate or severe OSA. Patients in group 2 (n=15) were older than patients in group 1 (n=12). The two groups were similar in terms of body mass index (BMI), neck circumference, nocturnal seizure frequency, vascular cardiovascular risk factors and excessive daytime sleepiness. Leukoaraiosis in MRI was highly prevalent in our patients (40.7%), especially in group 2 patients. Eighty percent of the patients who had begun CPAP therapy experienced decreased seizure frequency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with LOE should be screened for the presence of OSA and treated accordingly.
authors.affiliation: Department of neurology, Inserm U930, university hospital Bretonneau, 2, boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours cedex 9, France. Electronic address: aude.maurousset@outlook.com.
authors.forename: Aude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maurousset
authors.affiliation: Department of neurology, Inserm U930, university hospital Bretonneau, 2, boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Toffol
authors.affiliation: Department of neurology, Inserm U930, university hospital Bretonneau, 2, boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Praline
authors.affiliation: Department of neurology, Inserm U930, university hospital Bretonneau, 2, boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biberon
authors.affiliation: Department of neurology, Inserm U930, university hospital Bretonneau, 2, boulevard Tonnellé, 37044 Tours cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Nadège
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Limousin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D000067562:Late Onset Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D015995:Prevalence; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Late-onset epilepsy; Leuco-araïose; Leukoaraiosis; Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome; Polysomnographie; Polysomnography; Syndrome d’apnées obstructives du sommeil; Épilepsie débutant à un âge tardif