ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Obstructive sleep apnea is a common entity in older adults that can lead to significant impairments in sleep quality and daytime functioning. It is often underdiagnosed, however, because of both an underappreciation of its prevalence and consequences in older adults as well as an inconstant presentation of signs and symptoms. In addition, relatively few studies have focused on obstructive sleep apnea in the older population. As a result, much of our knowledge base on obstructive sleep apnea in older adults is based on extrapolation of findings from younger populations. Whenever possible, this review will attempt to cite literature that focuses on older adults and will specifically identify these studies as such; however, in most cases, data from younger cohorts will be discussed, as these remain the only data available.
