biostudies-literatureEdwards BANCRR NIH HHSNHLBI NIH HHS1227-36https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4098808biostudies-literatureUnknown37(7)<h4>Study objectives</h4>Current evidence suggests that the pathological mechanisms underlying obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are altered with age. However, previous studies examining individual physiological traits known to contribute to OSA pathogenesis have been assessed in isolation, primarily in healthy individuals.<h4>Design</h4>We assessed the four physiological traits responsible for OSA in a group of young and old patients with OSA.<h4>Setting</h4>Sleep research laboratory.<h4>Participants</h4>Ten young (20-40 y) and old (60 y and older) patients with OSA matched by body mass index and sex.<h4>Measurements and results</h4>Pharyngeal anatomy/collapsibility, loop gain (LG), upper airway muscle responsiveness/gain (UAG) and the respiratory arousal threshold were determined using multiSleepObstructive sleep apnea in older adults is a distinctly different physiological phenotype.PMC4098808R01 HL048531UL1 RR025758R01 HL090897P01 HL 095491P01 HL095491K24 HL093218K24 HL 093218-01A1UL1 RR 025758-01R01 HL085188R01 HL090897-01A2R01 HL085188-025R01HL048531-16Sands SAOwens RLMalhotra AEdwards BAEckert DJWellman AWhite DPfalseObstructive sleep apnea in older adults is a distinctly different physiological phenotype.<h4>Study objectives</h4>Current evidence suggests that the pathological mechanisms underlying obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are altered with age. However, previous studies examining individual physiological traits known to contribute to OSA pathogenesis have been assessed in isolation, primarily in healthy individuals.<h4>Design</h4>We assessed the four physiological traits responsible for OSA in a group of young and old patients with OSA.<h4>Setting</h4>Sleep research laboratory.<h4>Participants</h4>Ten young (20-40 y) and old (60 y and older) patients with OSA matched by body mass index and sex.<h4>Measurements and results</h4>Pharyngeal anatomy/collapsibility, loop gain (LG), upper airway muscle responsiveness/gain (UAG) and the respiratory arousal threshold were determined using multi2014-01-01T00:00:00Z2014 Jul2025-04-19T11:21:04.084Z2019-03-27T01:32:05ZS-EPMC40988082506125110.5665/sleep.3844