Polysomnographic characteristics in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Objective To analyze the characteristics of polysomnography in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS).Method We studied retrospectively 88 patients with OSAHS who were diagnosed by overnight polysomnography(PSG),and those patients were divided into two groups,elderly group and middle-aged group.We analyzed differences between the two groups in body mass index(BMI),the severity of OSAHS and in the distribution of respiratory events during non-rapid eye movement(NREM)and rapid eye movement(REM)sleep.Results The elderly OSAHS patients were significantly thinner than middle aged patients〔(26.9±3.1)kg/m2 vs(28.5±3.4)kg/m2〕.The mean apnea-hypopnea index(AHI)during total sleep time(AHITST)was decreased in elderly group than in middle-aged group〔(31.6±20.6)time/h vs(46.9±28.8)time /h〕.The lowest oxygen saturation(LSaO2)was significantly higher in elderly group than in middle aged group〔(79.8±6.8)% vs(75.2±11.7)%〕.Conclusion The elderly OSAHS patients are less severer than middle-aged patients.The therapy of the elderly OSAHS patients is mainly conservative.