The Interaction of Hypertension and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk on Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults

To preliminarily examine the individual and interaction effects of hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk on cognitive functions (i.e., global cognition, memory, attention, and executive function).

The current study was a secondary data analysis. Forty older adults were retrieved from a descriptive study. OSA risk was measured by the STOP-BANG questionnaire, and hypertension by self-report and medications used. Spearman rho correlation and two-way analysis of covariance were used in the data analysis.

After controlling for covariates (i.e., age, educational years, health conditions, body mass index, and depressive symptoms), older adults with hypertension had poorer memory and attention; older adults with high OSA risk had poorer memory and better executive function. This interaction effect of hypertension and OSA risk on executive function was significant.

The association between hypertension and memory and attention and between OSA risk and memory in older adults was supported. The interaction effect was found in executive function but unexpected. Future studies are needed to recruit older adults with hypertension and diagnosed OSA to explore these interaction effects.