Abstract
Background Osteoporosis (OP) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are two common serious disorders in the elderly associated. Although clinical studies suggest an association between these two diseases, their co-existence in elderly is controversial.
Objectives This study explores the longitudinal changes on bone mineral density (BMD) in a large sample of older subjects with and without OSA.
Methods 406 subjects, initially aged 68.8±1 y, were examined at baseline and after 7 y. At baseline they had anthropometric data, home polygraphy, assessment of daily energy expenditure, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). At follow-up, clinical and DXA data were also collected.
Results A significant decrease in prevalence of OP and osteopenia was present both at lumbar and femoral sites. Considering the changes in BMD and T-score according to severity of OSA, there was a significant decrease in cases with OP. After adjustment for gender, anthropometric and metabolic variables, univariate and multivariate regression analyses showed a significant association between changes of BMD and gender without contribution of metabolic and sleep related respiratory factors.
Conclusions In older healthy subjects, a reduced prevalence of OP was found in a 7-y follow-up independently of the presence or not of OSA. The impact of chronic intermittent hypoxia on bone mineral loss appears quite limited in such an elderly population.
- Copyright ©the authors 2017