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Elderly Often Untested for Sleep Apnea

Geriatric patients are at a higher risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), yet they are seldom diiagnosed or evaluated for OSA.

A recent study shows that 56% of people 65 years and older have a high risk of OSA, but that only 8% were tested for OSA.

The study included 1,052 Medicare patients answering sleep questions as part of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS).  

Nontheless, aAmong those studied and diagnosed with OSA, 82% were prescribed CPAP treatment.

The American Sleep Medicine Foundation funded this study. Additional authors included Lynda Lisabeth, Ph.D., MPH, Lesli Skolarus, M.D., M.S. and James F. Burke, M.D., M.S., all from the University of Michigan.

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Disclosures
The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose related to this subject