Abstract
Aim: To investigate the effect of age on severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) severity was the aim of this study.
Material and Method: The files of 874 OSAS patients diagnosed in our sleep laboratory between January 2005 – January 2010 were retrospectively analysed. Polysomnography was performed with Sleep Screen - Viasys device and scorring was done according to the criteria of Rech-Schaffen Kales. Chi-square and student's t-test was used in statistical analysis.
Results: There were of 874 OSAS cases in the study. The mean age was 49.1±10.7 and of the cases, 602 (68.9%) were male, 272 (31.1%) were female. The severity of OSAS was mild in 235 (26.9%), moderate in 224 (25.6%) and severe in 415 (47.5%). A great majority of OSAS cases were belonging (65.2%) 40-59 years age group. Younger cases were 18.2% and older cases were%16.7 of OSAS patients. Mean AHI was 33.9 in younger (age<40), 36.8 in middle age (age=40-59) and 42.4 in older (age≥60) group. Age was <50 in 60.4% of mild OSAS cases whereas was the same in 50% of moderate OSAS and in 42.1% of severe OSAS cases. The severity of OSAS was statistically significantly increasing as age was advancing (p<0.05). As the cases were grouped as older and younger than 50 years of age, AHI, AI and ODI were statistically significantly higher and minimum saturation was significantly lower in older age group (p<0.05).
Conclusion: OSAS is getting worser as the age is getting advanced.
- © 2011 ERS
