Sleep disordered breathing in community dwelling elderly: associations with cardiovascular disease, impaired systolic function, and mortality after a six-year follow-up.

INTRODUCTION

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and impaired cardiac function are common in elderly people. We investigated the association of SDB and mortality in a community dwelling elderly population, considering CVD and objectively measured impaired cardiac function have been poorly studied thus far.

AIM

To investigate whether SDB is a factor that affects mortality in elderly people, with a focus on those with CVD and/or signs of impaired cardiac function.

METHODS

A prospective cohort design was used and 331 community dwelling elderly aged 71-87 years underwent one-night polygraphic recordings in the subjects' homes. CVD and systolic function were objectively established. Mortality data were collected after 6 years.

RESULTS

In the total population there were no significant associations between mortality and SDB. In those with CVD and impaired systolic function, as measured by NT-proBNP, oxygen desaturation index (ODI) ≥10 was associated with mortality. The hazard ratio of 3.0 (CI 95% 1.1-8.6, p=0.03) remained statistically significant after adjustments for age, gender, diabetes and plasma values of NT-proBNP.

CONCLUSION

SDB in community dwelling elderly has no overall association to mortality irrespective of degree of SDB. However, hypoxic events (i.e., ODI ≥10) were associated with mortality in the group who had CVD in combination with impaired systolic function.