ERJ
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Permissions
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (14)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Browne, H.A.K.
Right arrow Articles by Morrell, M.J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Browne, H.A.K.
Right arrow Articles by Morrell, M.J.
Eur Respir J 2003; 21:523-529
Copyright ©ERS Journals Ltd 2003


Ageing does not influence the sleep-related decrease in the hypercapnic ventilatory response

H.A.K. Browne1, L. Adams1,3, A.K. Simonds2 and M.J. Morrell1,2

1 National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College School of Medicine, Charing Cross Campus, and 2 Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK. 3 School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia

CORRESPONDENCE: M.J. Morrell, Sleep and Ventilation Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London, SW3 6NP, UK. Fax: 44 2073518911. E-mail: m.morrell@ic.ac.uk

Keywords: ageing, carbon dioxide, control of breathing, sleep, sleep apnoea

Received: May 10, 2002
Accepted November 26, 2002

A Welcome Trust Research Career Development Fellowship in Basic Biomedical Science awarded to M.J. Morrell supported this work.

In young people, a sleep-related reduction in the gain of the ventilatory chemoreflex feedback loop occurs; in the elderly, it has been reported that no sleep-related reduction occurs. A relatively high loop gain could contribute to periodic breathing and central sleep apnoea in the elderly. This study tested the hypothesis that ageing is associated with a reduction in the magnitude of the sleep-related decrease in the hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR).

The HCVR was measured using a steady state method, awake and asleep, in groups (n=10) of elderly (66–81 yrs) and young (23–35 yrs) nonapnoeics. Upper airway resistance was maintained close to wakefulness levels using continuous positive airway pressure (mean sleep-related increase in resistance: elderly 1.6±1.2 cmH2O·L·s–1, young 1.2±0.8 cmH2O·L·s–1).

The sleep-related decrease in the HCVR was similar in the elderly and young groups (elderly: wake 0.14±0.06 and sleep 0.06±0.02 L·min–1·kPa and young, wake 0.19±0.07 and sleep 0.10±0.04 L·min–1·kPa).

Ageing per se was shown not to change the magnitude of the sleep-related decrease in hypercapnic ventilatory response. The authors speculate that age-related changes in the hypercapnic ventilatory response are unlikely to contribute to the increased prevalence of central sleep apnoea in the elderly.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
ChestHome page
M. Eikermann, A. S. Jordan, N. L. Chamberlin, S. Gautam, A. Wellman, Y.-L. Lo, D. P. White, and A. Malhotra
The Influence of Aging on Pharyngeal Collapsibility During Sleep
Chest, June 1, 2007; 131(6): 1702 - 1709.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J. Physiol.Home page
A. Wellman, A. Malhotra, A. S. Jordan, K. Schory, S. Gautam, and D. P. White
Chemical control stability in the elderly
J. Physiol., May 15, 2007; 581(1): 291 - 298.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2003 by the European Respiratory Society.