[Sleep apnea in older adults: should it always be treated?]
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Updated: Oct 31, 2026

Multi-Modal Home Sleep Monitoring in Older Adults
Published on: January 26, 2019
Amos Ghidossi1, Nicola Andrea Marchi2, Raphaël Heinzer2
1Service de gériatrie et réadaptation gériatrique, Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois, 1011 Lausanne.
Abstract:
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) affects more than 50 % of people over 65 years but often remains underdiagnosed due to atypical presentation: classic symptoms (snoring, daytime sleepiness) are less pronounced, while insomnia is more frequent. In older adults, the decision to treat with CPAP should be based on symptoms, quality of life, and a comprehensive geriatric assessment (frailty, cognition, autonomy, patient preferences) rather than on OSA severity alone, as this treatment primarily improves symptoms and quality of life, while its cardiovascular benefits and impact on mortality remain uncertain.
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