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Sleep apnea and mortality in an aged cohort
D L Bliwise1, N G Bliwise, M Partinen
1Sleep Disorders Center, Stanford University Medical School, CA 94305.
American Journal of Public Health
|May 1, 1988
Summary
Elderly individuals with sleep apnea face a higher risk of cardiovascular death during sleep. This study suggests sleep-related breathing disorders may contribute to mortality in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sleep Medicine
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Sleep is a vulnerable period for cardiovascular events in the elderly.
- Sleep apnea is a prevalent condition in older adults and a potential contributor to sleep-related mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between sleep apnea and mortality in a cohort of non-institutionalized elderly individuals.
- To explore potential mechanisms linking sleep-related breathing disorders to cardiovascular death in aging populations.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 198 elderly individuals (mean age 66) underwent polysomnography.
- Participants were followed for up to 12 years to assess mortality outcomes.
- Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the association between sleep apnea and mortality.
Main Results:
- The mortality ratio for sleep apnea (Respiratory Disturbance Index > 10 events/hour) was estimated at 2.7.
- Cardiovascular death was most strongly associated with age in this cohort.
- Results suggest a possible link between specific pathophysiological sleep events and natural death in the elderly.
Conclusions:
- Sleep apnea may increase the risk of cardiovascular death during sleep in the elderly.
- Age is a significant factor in cardiovascular mortality among older adults.
- Further research is warranted to understand the role of sleep-related pathophysiological events in elderly mortality.