The prevalence of OSA rises with age, however it is also diagnosed in patients below the age of 35 years.
Aim of the paper was the camparison of the severity and clinical features of OSA in young and elderly subjects. The study was a retrospective analysis of 561 subjects aged > 65yrs and 319 subjects aged < 35yrs who were investigated in our Sleep Laboratory between 1992-2005 due to snoring or daytime sleepiness. They all underwent full polisomnography or a limited recording. In patients with diagnosed OSA (AHI > 10) we initiated CPAP therapy.
Results: OSA was diagnosed in 383 (63,3%) older patients and in 144 (45,1%) younger patients. BMI was significantly higher in younger subjects than in older (32,2 ± 6,9 vs. 28,9 ± 5,1 kg/m²).The prevalence of OSA among women was significantly higher in older patients than in younger (26,4 vs. 5,8%). Younger patients with OSA had a significantly higher AHI(42,7 ± 32,1 vs. 32, 2 ± 18,4)and a longer duration of apneas expressed as percentage of total sleep time spent in apnea (31,6 ± 23,2 vs. 26,5 ± 17,7%). CPAP therapy was initiated in 185 older patients and 41% of them continue therapy. In younger group patients CPAP therapy was started in 51 patients and 47% of them continue therapy. The mean therapeutic pressure was significantly higher in younger patients with OSA (9,2 ± 2,2 vs. 8,2 ± 2,2 cm H₂O).
Conclusions: 1/ OSA is more frequent in elderly patients ; 2/ in young patients OSA is more severe and requires higher pressures in CPAP therapy; 3/ OSA among women is four time more frequent in older patients than in younger.