INTRODUCTION:Many countries are experiencing population aging process, and the consequent rise of diseases associated with it as difficulty maintaining balance, loss in quality of sleep apnea syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OBJECTIVES: Investigating the correlation between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) associated to the risks and falling events in elderly people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, comparative cross-sectional research was done using a convenience sample of 75 individuals aged over 60 years, men and women. The procedures were performed: application of the mini-mental state examination; simplified geriatric depression scale, Epworth sleepiness scale; Tinneti assessment scale balance; weight and height measuring; calculation of body mass index (BMI), three stabilometric records of the postural oscillation on front-to-back (FB) and side-to-side ways (SS). RESULTS: Higher prevalence of OSA in men. The correlations made between variables BMI and stabilometry found no statistically significant correlation (Pearson’s, p ≤ 0.01). For the other statistical calculations it was used the method one way ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05). It was decided to divide the BMI (normal subgroups, I, the overweight class, II, III and IV) and relate it to stabilometry; was the correlation between the severity of OSA and stabilometry without regard to BMI; was also made to correlate the data stabilometric subgroups of BMI with the same degree of severity of OSA; correlation was performed between the data subsets stabilometric BMI and different degrees of OSA, and all those who showed no statistical significance. When correlated with different degrees of OSA group (G1), (GC and G2) and BMI subgroups with stabilometric records, no statistically significant correlation was established. CONCLUSION: It was not possible to determine quantitative values of the variables that promote the prevention of falling events in elderly people.
Falling events; Elderly people; Polysomnography; Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA); Stabilometry
