J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2015 Nov;54(4):564-569. 10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.564.

Comparison of Neurocognitive Functions between Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients and Non-Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients in the Korean Elderly Population

• Kim HC
• Kang SH
• Choi JH
• Chung HG
• Kim TY
• So HS

• KMID: 2149340
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2015.54.4.564

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is classified as positional sleep apnea (POSA) and non-positional sleep apnea (NPOSA) according to apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) changed by sleep position. The aim of this study was to compare neurocognitive functions between two groups in the elderly Korean population.
METHODS
Forty-four subjects in OSA patients with total AHI> or =5 participated as criteria for POSA (n=25) with 1) supine position AHI/non-supine position AHI> or =2 and 2) total AHI> or =5 or not (NPOSA, n=19). All participants completed clinical interview by physician and neurocognitive function assessments. Mann-Whitney U and chi-square test were performed for comparison of neurocognitive functions and sleep characteristics with polysomnography between two groups.
RESULTS
No significant difference in demographic and clinical characteristics was observed between the two groups. However the NPOSA group showed more decline than the POSA group on the Boston naming test (p=0.034), digit span test (p=0.001), go-no-go test (p=0.042), and fist-edge-palm test (p=0.007).
CONCLUSION
In this study NPOSA patients were found to have lower cognitive functions compared to POSA patients. A larger sample and long term follow-up study might be needed.

Keyword

Obstructive sleep apnea; Sleep position; Non-positional sleep apnea; Polysomnography; Neurocognitive function

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Polysomnography
Sleep Apnea Syndromes
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*
Supine Position