The Prevalence of Sleep Disordered Breath- Ing (sdb) in Older Adults Is Higher than in Middle-aged Adults. in a Community-dwelling

THE PREVALENCE OF SLEEP DISORDERED BREATHING (SDB) IN OLDER ADULTS IS HIGHER THAN IN MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS. IN A COMMUNITY-DWELLING population of older adults aged 65-95 years, Ancoli-Israel et al reported a SDB prevalence (apnea-hypopnea index, or AHI, ≥20) of 51% in men and 39% in women.1 In contrast, estimates of SDB in middle-aged adults are generally less than 10%2; side-by-side comparison studies confirm a higher prevalence of SDB in older adults compared to the middle-aged.3-7 In spite of the higher prevalence of SDB among older adults, the functional consequences have not been clearly established. In young and middle-aged adults, SDB has been associated with daytime somnolence, sleep related symptoms, and decrements in sleep related quality of life.8 Large population-based studies of older adults have shown an association between SDB severity and daytime sleepiness.1,9-11 However, no prior study has been able to explore whether the associations of SDB and sleepiness/ sleep related quality of life are explained by short sleep duration or other objective indices of sleep quality. Aging and age-related comorbidities and medication use are associated with changes in sleep architecture.12-14 Because reduced sleep duration or sleep efficiency may themselves contribute to daytime symptoms, it may be important to consider the independent associations of SDB and fragmented or shorter sleep with functional consequences in studies of older adults. Behavioral Correlates of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Older Women