Postural stability and fall risk in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Sleep Medicine
• Gerontology

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to nocturnal hypoxia and fragmented sleep.
• These sleep disturbances may negatively impact postural stability and increase fall risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of OSA severity on postural stability.
• To determine if OSA poses a fall risk.

Main Methods:

• Forty-nine OSA patients (apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] ≥ 5) were divided into severe (AHI ≥ 30) and non-severe groups.
• Postural stability, limits of stability, and fall risk were assessed using the Biodex Balance System®.
• Daytime sleepiness was measured with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

Main Results:

• Severe OSA patients exhibited worse static postural stability (overall and anterior-posterior indices).
• Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and lowest oxygen saturation (SaO2) independently predicted overall postural stability and fall risk.
• Sleep stages N1 and N3 predicted limits of stability.

Conclusions:

• Static postural stability is compromised in severe OSA.
• Worsening static stability and increased fall risk correlate with higher AHI and lower SaO2.
• Dynamic stability is associated with sleep structure, specifically reduced N3 and increased N1 sleep stages.