Depression and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

by Carmen M Schröder and Ruth O'Hara
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine

Annals of General Psychiatry 2005, 4:13doi:10.1186/1744-859X-4-13

© 2005 Schröder and O'Hara; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Abstract

For over two decades clinical studies have been conducted which suggest the existence of a relationship between depression and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

Recently, Ohayon underscored the evidence for a link between these two disorders in the general population, showing that 800 out of 100,000 individuals had both a breathing-related sleep disorder and a major depressive disorder, with up to 20% of the subjects presenting with one of these disorders also having the other.

OSA in Older Adults

In some populations, depending on age, gender and other demographic and health characteristics, the prevalence of both disorders may be even higher: OSA may affect more than 50% of individuals over the age of 65, and significant depressive symptoms may be present in as many as 26% of a community-dwelling population of older adults.

OSA Can Make it Harder to Treat Depression

In clinical practice, the presence of depressive symptomatology is often considered in patients with OSA, and may be accounted for and followed-up when considering treatment approaches and response to treatment. On the other hand, sleep problems and specifically OSA are rarely assessed on a regular basis in patients with a depressive disorder.

However, OSA might not only be associated with a depressive syndrome, but its presence may also be responsible for failure to respond to appropriate pharmacological treatment. Furthermore, an undiagnosed OSA might be exacerbated by adjunct treatments to antidepressant medications, such as benzodiazepines.

Increased awareness of the relationship between depression and OSA might significantly improve diagnostic accuracy as well as treatment outcome for both disorders. In this review, we will summarize important findings in the current literature regarding the association between depression and OSA, and the possible mechanisms by which both disorders interact. Implications for clinical practice will be discussed.

Depression in OSA

Definition and prevalence of OSA

OSA is by far the most common form of sleep disordered breathing and is defined by frequent episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep. Specifically, it is characterized by sleep-related decreases (hypopneas) or pauses (apneas) in respiration.

An obstructive apnea is defined as at least 10 seconds interruption of oronasal airflow, corresponding to a complete obstruction of the upper airways, despite continuous chest and abdominal movements, and associated with a decrease in oxygen saturation and/or arousals from sleep. An obstructive hypopnea is defined as at least 10 seconds of partial obstruction of the upper airways, resulting in an at least 50% decrease in oronasal airflow.

Clinically OSA is suspected when a patient presents with both snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) . The diagnosis of OSA is confirmed when a polysomnography recording determines an Apnea-Hypopnea-Index (AHI) of > 5 per hour of sleep . Even if cutoff points have never been clearly defined, an AHI of less than 5 is generally considered being normal, 5–15 mild, 15–30 moderate and over 30 severe OSA.

The prevalence of OSA is higher in men than in women. OSA is found in all age groups but its prevalence increases with age. In children, the prevalence of OSA is less well defined and has been estimated to be 2–8%. In subjects between the ages of 30 to 65 years, 24% of men and 9% of women had OSA . Among subjects over 55 years of age, 30–60% fulfil the criterion of an AHI > 5. In a population of community-dwelling older adults, 70% of men and 56% of women between the ages of 65 to 99 years have evidence of OSA with a criterion of AHI > 10 . [Editor's note - AHI is a measurement that is used during diagnostic sleep studies.]

The abnormal respiratory events which are the hallmark of OSA are generally accompanied by heart rate variability and arousals from sleep, with frequent arousals being the most important factor resulting in EDS.

With regards to sleep architecture, we find a significant increase in light sleep stage (mainly stage 1) at the expense of deep slow wave sleep (stages 3 and 4) and REM sleep. Slow wave sleep is sometimes even completely abolished. However clinically, patients are often not aware of this repetitive sleep interruption (with sometimes hundreds of arousals during one night), but simply do not feel restored in the morning. Other nocturnal symptoms can include restlessness, nocturia, excessive salivation and sweating, gastroesophageal reflux, as well as headache and dry mouth or throat in the morning on awakening.

The extent to which daytime functioning is affected generally depends on the severity of OSA. Symptoms other than EDS which greatly impact daytime functioning are neuropsychological symptoms such as irritability, difficulty concentrating, cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, and other psychological disturbances. Thus, OSA can easily mimic symptoms of a major depressive episode.

Continued on Page Two, The Connection Between OSA and Depression >

Important: The information presented on this page and other pages on this site is based upon the opinions of the author and on the author's interpretation of published reports and articles. It is not intended to replace your relationship with a qualified health care professional, and is not intended as medical advice.

The author encourages you to make your own health care decisions in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

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