Introduction: Sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (SAHS) is distinct in the elderly as age-related co-morbidity may be aggravated by sleep-related breathing disorders or may mask typical clinical symptoms.
State of art: The SAHS prevalence in the elderly varies from one study to another, with an average rate of 25% that might increase according to the importance of associated pathologies. Clinical symptoms tend to be the neurological manifestations of excessive daytime sleepiness and cognitive deterioration.
Perspectives: Treatment of SAHS should include weight reduction strategies if obesity is present. There is no role for surgery in this age group. On the other hand, adjustable oral appliances can be used depending on the severity of the SAHS, but nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the most effective therapy available. Acceptance of and compliance with CPAP treatment is as good in this age group as in younger patients, with remarkable effectiveness in terms of improvement in daytime sleepiness and cognitive function. However, the effectiveness of treatment for SAHS is related to the level of symptoms present and this should be taken into account when making a therapeutic decision.
Conclusions: These results fully justify treatment of SAHS in the elderly, but the decision to treat should be governed by the level of clinical symptoms from SAHS.