Study objectives: To examine the relationship between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and cardiovascular disease among community-dwelling older adults. Previous studies have suggested relatively stronger associations between SDB and such morbidity in middle-aged, relative to elderly, populations.
Design: Cross-sectional analysis of an elderly ambulatory, non-clinic-based cohort (Bay Area Sleep Cohort, BASC) SETTING: Community population studied in a sleep laboratory
Participants: One hundred twenty-nine older adults (mean [+/- SD] age = 72.6 [8.3]) (78 women; 51 men).
Interventions: NA.
Measurements: Complete clinical history including list of current medications, physical examination, selected blood chemistries, multiple blood pressure measurements, 12-lead electrocardiogram, and 2 consecutive nights of polysomnography.
Results: Fifty-one individuals (40%) were taking 1 or more cardiovascular medications and 24 (19%) had an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 10 or more per hour of sleep. Cardiovascular medication use was related to cardiac events or procedures, history of angina, higher systolic or diastolic blood pressure, and abnormal electrocardiogram. Logistic regression showed statistically significant association between cardiovascular medication use and AHI of 10 or greater per hour, independent of age, sex, and body mass index. Supplementary analyses indicated that rapid eye movement AHI of 10 or greater per hour was significantly associated with elevated diastolic blood pressure.
Conclusions: The results suggest that sleep-disordered breathing may contribute to increased cardiovascular morbidity in older adults.