Sleep Apnea in Elderly

Description

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB or sleep apnea) is very common among elderly Veterans and leads to increased morbidity and mortality in this population. The proposal aims to identity whether oxygen, finasteride and acetazolamide can be effective in reducing unstable breathing and eliminating sleep apnea in the elderly via different mechanisms. This proposal will enhance the investigators' understanding of the pathways that contribute to the development of sleep apnea in the elderly. The investigators expect that the results obtained from this study will positively impact the health of Veterans by identifying new treatment modalities for sleep apnea. A cumulative effect of the investigators' research will fulfill the long-term goal of improving the quality of life of elderly Veterans suffering from sleep apnea and its potential life-threatening complications.

Conditions

Sleep Apnea, Elderly Adults

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB or sleep apnea) is very common among elderly Veterans and leads to increased morbidity and mortality in this population. The proposal aims to identity whether oxygen, finasteride and acetazolamide can be effective in reducing unstable breathing and eliminating sleep apnea in the elderly via different mechanisms. This proposal will enhance the investigators' understanding of the pathways that contribute to the development of sleep apnea in the elderly. The investigators expect that the results obtained from this study will positively impact the health of Veterans by identifying new treatment modalities for sleep apnea. A cumulative effect of the investigators' research will fulfill the long-term goal of improving the quality of life of elderly Veterans suffering from sleep apnea and its potential life-threatening complications.

Pathophysiology-Guided Therapy for Sleep Apnea in the Elderly

Sleep Apnea in Elderly

Condition
Sleep Apnea
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Detroit

John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48201-1916

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Adults who are 60 years old and older, with mild to moderate sleep apnea with AHI \>/=5 to 20/hr with central, obstructive, mixed apneas and hypopneas.
  • * For the finasteride protocol elderly men with above criteria will be enrolled.
  • * Patients with severe sleep apnea (AHI\>20/hr)
  • * Patients with history of prostate cancer
  • * Males with hypogonadism
  • * History of cardiac disease, including myocardial infarction
  • * Bypass surgery
  • * Atrial and ventricular tachy-bradycardias
  • * Systolic congestive heart failure and Cheyne-Stokes respiration
  • * Current unstable angina
  • * Stroke
  • * Schizophrenia
  • * Untreated hypothyroidism
  • * Seizure disorder
  • * Preexisting renal failure and liver disorders
  • * Failure to give informed consent.
  • * Patients with significant pulmonary diseases by history and abnormal pulmonary function testing, including moderate obstructive/restrictive lung/chest wall disorders with resting oxygen saturation of \<96% or on supplemental oxygen
  • * Patients on certain medications including:
  • * study drugs
  • * sympathomimetics/parasympathomimetics or their respective blockers
  • * narcotics
  • * antidepressants
  • * anti-psychotic agents
  • * other central nervous system (CNS) altering medications
  • * current alcohol, tobacco or recreational drug use
  • * Patients with BMI\>34kg/m2 will be excluded to avoid the effects of morbid obesity on pulmonary mechanics and ventilatory control
  • * Elderly with unstable gait or mobility issues that may preclude safe participation
  • * Individuals with allergy to finasteride or acetazolamide will be excluded from the specific protocol
  • * Pregnant women

Ages Eligible for Study

60 Years to 89 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

VA Office of Research and Development,

Susmita Chowdhuri, MD MS, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI

Study Record Dates

2025-07-01