Modest Improvement of Untreated Severe Sleep-Disordered Breathing in the Middle-Aged and Elderly.
- Author:
Hong Jun JEON
1
;
Young Rong BANG
;
Soyeon JEON
;
Tae Young LEE
;
Hye Youn PARK
;
In Young YOON
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Apnea-hypopnea index; Clinical course; Sleep position; Sleep-disordered breathing
- MeSH: Aged*; Body Weight; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Retrospective Studies; Sleep Apnea Syndromes*
- From:Psychiatry Investigation 2017;14(5):662-668
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that untreated sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) deteriorates over time, however this remains contentious. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the clinical course of SDB in middle-aged and older SDB patients, and to identify how relevant factors contribute to the change in SDB severity. METHODS: Baseline and follow-up polysomnographic data of 56 untreated SDB patients (mean age, 61.2±5.71) were obtained retrospectively and the mean interval was 62.4±22.0 months. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the baseline severity, and the factors associated with the course of SDB were analyzed. RESULTS: At the baseline, 13 subjects were simple snorers, 15 had mild to moderate SDB, and 28 were severe SDB patients. While there was no significant change in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) as a whole, subgroup analysis showed decrease of AHI in severe SDB patients (43.9±10.6 to 35.6±20.0, p=0.009). The change in supine time percent and baseline AHI were associated with the change in AHI (β=0.387, p=0.003; β=-0.272, p=0.037). CONCLUSION: Untreated SDB did not deteriorate over time with modest improvement in severe SDB. A proportion of severe SDB patients might expect decrease in SDB severity irrespective of changes in sleep position or body weight.
