Continuous positive airway pressure treatment improves bone mineral density in men affected by severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Impact of the visceral adipose tissue on bone quality in patients with untreated mild-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) predominantly affects patients who are obese and causes systemic organ damage. Little is known about the relationship between fat distribution and bone impairment in these patients. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) on the bone quality of patients with OSA. In our prospective study, 49 untreated patients with mild-to-severe OSA underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Polygraphy data were also collected. According to the recent reference values for European adults, patients were divided by the sex-related threshold of the VAT index into two categories: VAT index within limits (normal VAT [nVAT]) and increased VAT (iVAT). In all, 63% of the patients were in the iVAT category. Compared to patients with nVAT, those with iVAT had a higher prevalence of arterial hypertension (52% versus 22%) and diabetes (32% versus 6%), and higher values of mean nocturnal desaturation. Patients with iVAT had, in comparison to those with nVAT, lower values of the lumbar spine trabecular bone score (TBS; mean 1.24 versus 1.39; p < 0.001), TBS T-score (mean -1.82 versus -0.52; p < 0.001) and TBS Z-score (mean -0.35 versus 0.75; p = 0.002). Moreover, a close association was present between the VAT index and TBS lumbar spine L1-L4 (r2 linear 0.573; p < 0.001), and altered values of the TBS Z-score were associated with the severity of vertebral fractures. Finally, in a linear regression-adjusted model, the VAT index predicted TBS lumbar spine L1-L4 (β -0.323; p < 0.001). In patients with OSA VAT impacts bone quality. In these patients, the role of VAT as a metabolically active tissue should be considered.

Prevalence of sleep disorders in geriatrics: an exploratory study using sleep questionnaires

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of sleep problems in older subjects, considering sex and age differences.

METHODS

Subjects admitted to a geriatrics clinic underwent a medical visit and completed a battery of questionnaires assessing sleep quality, insomnia, sleep apnea risk, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), restless legs syndrome (RLS), chronotype, depression and global cognition.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight subjects (58.6 % women, mean age 77.36±6.07) were included. The most predominant sleep-related complaint was poor sleep quality (36.2 %), followed by sleep apnea risk (34.5 %), insomnia symptoms (25.9 %), EDS (15.5 %) and RLS (12.1 %). Older women reported more insomnia, poorer sleep quality and depressive symptoms than males. Patients aged ≥ 75 years old had more comorbidities and higher sleep apnea risk compared to those under 75 years old.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep problems are frequent in older adults, requiring their screening and treatment for possibly improving well-being and reduce the burden of neuropsychiatric and medical comorbidities.