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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
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Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults
Published on: January 26, 2019
Cardiac autonomic function in older adults with sleep-disordered breathing
S Tretriluxana1, M C K Khoo, S Redline
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Summary
This study found that increased severity of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) was paradoxically associated with decreased sympathetic activity in older adults. This suggests potential protective mechanisms against cardiovascular disease in individuals with SDB.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sleep Medicine
- Autonomic Nervous System Research
Background:
- Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common in older adults.
- Cardiac autonomic function plays a crucial role in cardiovascular health.
- Previous research has suggested a link between SDB and altered autonomic function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between SDB severity and cardiac autonomic function indices in individuals over 60 years old.
- To explore potential compensatory mechanisms in SDB.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 24 overnight polysomnograms from the Sleep Heart Health Study.
- Spectral analysis to determine six heart rate variability indices during wakefulness, REM, and non-REM sleep.
- Regression analysis of autonomic markers against four SDB severity measures (RDI, respiratory oscillation index, oxygen desaturation, arousal index).
Main Results:
- No general correlation was found between SDB severity measures and most autonomic indices.
- Mean heart rate decreased as the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) increased.
- The low-frequency to high-frequency power ratio (LHR) decreased with increasing RDI, indicating reduced sympathetic activity.
Conclusions:
- Contrary to some previous reports, increased SDB severity was associated with decreased sympathetic activity in older adults.
- This paradoxical finding may suggest natural compensatory mechanisms protecting against cardiovascular disease.
- Further research is needed to elucidate these protective pathways.
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