OSA Common in Older Adults, but Rarely Tested

A cross-sectional study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society sought to determine the proportion of older Americans at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who receive evaluations, diagnosis, and treatment, reports Healio . The researchers analyzed data from a poll of 1,052 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries 65 and older. More than half had a high risk for OSA, but just 8 percent were assessed and 94 percent were diagnosed with OSA. Of those who had confirmed OSA, 82 percent got treatment via positive airway pressure. "We were surprised to see that among those older Americans at risk for obstructive sleep apnea, very few received evaluations with overnight sleep studies," says the University of Michigan's Tiffany J. Braley. The researchers concluded that the study's outcomes indicate a missed opportunity for identifying millions of older adults with OSA.