Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Healthy Aged Persons: Possible Daytime Sequelae

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Abstract
We assessed the overnight sleep and breathing as well as daytime medical, sleep, and psychological status of a group of 34 healthy older persons. Analyses indicated that sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) was not related to any aspect of daytime functioning as measured in this study and that persons with an apnea + hypopnea index (AHI) 5= 5 (M AHI = 14.6) were not significantly impaired relative to those with lower levels of sdb (m ah1 = 1.0) on any aspect of daytime performance. We conclude that sdb occurring in healthy aged persons is probably not of immediate concern and that the use of a cutting score of AHI s= 5 for diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome is not indicative in healthy aged persons. However, these results may not be applicable to older persons who are not in the excellent state of health that was required for participants in our study.