Prevalence and Clinical and Polygraphic Characteristics of Patients With Postural Sleep Apnea Attended by a Colombian Health Institute in Bogotá, Colombia

Objective

To determine the prevalence and polygraphic and clinical characteristics of patients with postural sleep apnea attended on a Colombian health institute at Bogotá, Colombia.

Methods

Prospective descriptive observational study of patients older than 18 years old who underwent a polygraphic study because of a suspected OSA during a 6-month period between 2022 and 2023.

Results

A total of 233 polygraphic recordings were done in different patients who met criteria for the study. Ninety-seven patients (43%) met criteria for positional apnea and 126 (57%) for non-positional apnea. Patients with postural apnea had lower AHI (p < 0.001), lower body mass index (p = 0.002) and less hypertension (p = 0.002). NADIR was lower in patients with non-positional apnea, 75% vs 72% (p = 0.039). No significant statistical differences were found when comparing groups by age, sex or by Epworth, STOP-BANG, FOSQ-10, or Friedman's tongue position scales.

Conclusions

Postural apnea is a prevalent condition in Colombian population. According to our results these patients tend to have a lower severity of sleep apnea measured by AHI, lower BMI and less high blood pressure.