An evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and its characteristics in elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases, and provide reference for the clinical decisions. Methods All patients who were hospitalized in department of cardiovascular medicine from January to June in 2007 were invited to participate in the current study. A total of 317 hospitalized elderly patients were recruited into this study. All participants were assessed by portable bedside nocturnal polysomnograph and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). Results Among 317 patients, 281 cases (88.6%) met the criterion of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) [apnea and hypopnea index (AHI)≥5] and 47 cases (14.8%) met the criteria of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) (AHI≥5 and ESS≥9). When the severity of OSA (as indicated by AHI) was considered as a dependent variable, multiple regression analysis indicated that it was significantly associated with minimal SaO2 and the oxygen desaturation index, while age, habitual snoring, ESS, BMI, mean SaO2 and the duration of SaO2≤ 90% did not show significant effects on the severity of OSA. Conclusions High prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (with daytime sleepiness) is found in elderly hospitalized patients and the rate of obstructive sleep apnea is much higher in patients without daytime sleepiness symptoms. Minimal SaO2 and the oxygen desaturation index are the important predicting factors for the severity of OSA, while age, BMI, habitual snoring, sleepiness are not correlated with the severity of OSA after adjusting minimal SaO2 and oxygen desaturation index.