Postural stability and fall risk in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a cross-sectional study

ConclusionStatic postural stability of individuals with severe OSA is worse than those with non-severe OSA. Static postural stability worsens, and fall risk increases as AHI increases and the lowest SaO2 decreases in individuals with OSA. On the other hand, dynamic postural stability worsens as stage N1 (%) sleep increases and stage N3 (%) sleep decreases. While nocturnal hypoxia indicators such as AHI and lowest SaO2 are associated with static postural stability, sleep structure-related variables are associated with dynamic stability. Including postural stability assessments in the clinical practice for OSA may help addressing workplace accidents or tendency to fall.Trial registrationwww.ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT03589417.
Source: Sleep and Breathing - Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: research