ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Central sleep apnea (CSA) is characterized by cessation of breathing during sleep due to absent ventilatory drive. On the basis of etiology, CSA in the older population can be broadly classified as primary CSA, Cheyne-Stokes breathing pattern in heart failure, and CSA in neurodegenerative disease and stroke. In older individuals, literature about the prevalence of CSA in the different subcategories is scarce, although some data on the prevalence of Cheyne-Stokes breathing pattern in heart failure are available. While a few epidemiologic studies have attempted to study the prevalence of the disorder in the general population, information on the pathogenesis and treatment of CSA in the older population is insufficient. This chapter describes the accumulating evidence on the pathogenesis, prevalence, and treatment modalities for CSA, specifically as it pertains to older people. The different types of presentations of CSA in the geriatric population are discussed below.
