Sleep Apnea and Sleep-Disordered Breathing

Older adults undergo gradual changes in their sleep patterns. It is important to differentiate normal age-related sleep changes from sleep disorders. Because sleep disorders can affect an older adult's day-to-day life and contribute to various comorbidities, these patients should be carefully screened by using a detailed medical history, combined with a detailed sleep history. There is a high prevalence of undiagnosed and untreated sleep apnea in the elderly. Early identification and appropriate management of this disorder may not only provide improvement in quality of life but also decrease disease-associated morbidity and mortality.