Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Evaluation of Multiple Sleep-Related Parameters in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Different Age Ranges

Gilbert Seda, Carolyn H Welsh, Massoud Daheshia, John Perri and David Bradshaw

Purpose: No age-based comparative studies have investigated clinical and polysomnographic manifestations of adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

Methods: Retrospective record review of 570 patients with OSA at Naval Medical Center San Diego. Patients were divided into one of four age cohorts: (1) ages 18-29 (n=209); (2) ages 30-39 (n=106); (3) ages 40-49 (n=102); and (4) ages > 50 (n=153). Group comparisons of demographics, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Patient Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ), and polysomnography were analyzed.

Results: Patients, ages 18-29 reported more witnessed apneas, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS), and had higher respiratory related arousal indexes (p=0.018) compared to patients over 30 years old. Patients 50 years and older reported more nocturia (p=0.001), less snoring, and had higher Rapid Eye Movement (REM)-related apneas (p=0.008), and more severe oximetry desaturations than patients less than 50 years old (p=0.001 - 0.004). Age groups were similar with respect to Body Mass Index (BMI), self-reported sleep-related driving impairment, Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI), non-REM (NREM) AHI, and total obstructive and central apneas.

Conclusions: Snoring, EDS, nocturia, arousal index, and lowest oxygen saturation most significantly differentiated OSA across different age groups of patients with OSA.