Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in young and elderly patients – Does age matter?

Background: The frequency of OSAS rises with age, however it also diagnosed in patients below the age of 40 years. Aim: The goal of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of OSAS in elderly patients and to compare the severity and clinical features of OSAS in young and elderly subjects. Material and Methods: One hundred fifty patients were investigated for suspected OSAHS in our department. We compare two groups of patients: group A: patients with age ≥ 60 years and group B with patients of age Results: 150 patients with OSAHS were included: 34 patients in the group A (24 women and 10 men, mean age 66 ± 5 years [60; 81]) and 34 patients in the group B (12 men and 22 women). 85.8 % of elderly patients had co-morbidity and OSAS. OSAS was diagnosed in 24 (70.6%) patients from group A and 22 (64.7%) patients from group B. BMI was significantly higher in group B as a whole than in group A (35.6±6.6 vs 33.3±5.5 kg/m 2 , p=0.04), so was the BMI of the patients with OSA from group B when compared to the patients with OSA from group A (38.6±4.8 vs 34,6.±5.6 kg/m 2 , p=0,04). The incidence of OSAS was significantly higher in elderly females when compared to the young ones (55.8 vs 20.5%). Patients with OSA from group A had a significantly higher AHI (37.8±25.3 vs 32.09 ±28.5h -1, p = 0.038) and a high number of desaturation (214,6 vs 157,3). CPAP therapy was initiated in 13 patients (54.1%). In group B, CPAP therapy was started in 16 patients (72.7%). Conclusions: We can conclude that OSA is more frequent in elderly patients and more severe in young patients.