Clinical characteristics and comorbidities of sleep apnea in the older and oldest-old inpatients

Background and Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was one common disorder associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It’s incidence increased with age. The purpose of this study was to investigate the geriatric characteristics, morbidities, and heart structural changes associated with OSA. Materials and Methods: This study included 311 inpatients aged ≥60 years old between January 2018 and December 2020, who had undergone PSG testing. Demographic, clinical, and polysomnographic data of patients were compared between OSA and non-OSA, moderate-severe OSA and mild OSA, oldest-old OSA and young-old OSA. Results: Of 311 inpatients, 128(41.2%) had OSA and 183 (58.8%) did not; the mean age was 83.647.15 years, and 10% was female. There was no difference in comorbidities or cardiac structure and function between the OSA and non-OSA groups, However, oldest-old OSA patients had lower oxygen saturation and higher rates of some comorbidities than young-old OSA group, and the moderate-severe OSA had also lower oxygen saturation. Conclusions: The study found a higher prevalence of OSA-related morbidity in oldest-old patients over 85 years of age. The young-old patients with OSA were probably self-modulated and more tolerant. The severity of OSA also affected the patient’s clinical presentation.