Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) is a form of chronic respiratory insufficiency related to obesity that affects young and old people. Age appears to be associated with poorer response to treatment by nighttime ventilation. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of elderly subjects (>65 years) with OHS compared to younger patients, with a view to adapting therapy in older individuals. We conducted a retrospective study comparing socio-demographic, clinical, functional characteristics as well as treatment and outcomes between young (<65 years) and older (65 years and older) individuals with OHS at the University Hospital of Martinique. We included 143 patients (114 women), of whom 82 were 65 years or older (57%). Charlson index was higher in the older group. Patients in ≥65 years group were less frequently obese, but more frequently had diabetes mellitus, cardiac arrythmia and arterial hypertension compared to younger patients. There was no difference in the circumstances of diagnosis or arterial blood gas at diagnosis. At follow up, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) was higher in ≥65 years group. Despite comparable NIV settings, apart from lower expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) with higher apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), patients in the ≥65-year-old group remained more frequently hypercapnic. In conclusion, over half (57%) of patients with OHS in our cohort were aged over 65 years. Older patients developed OHS at lower BMI levels than their younger counterparts, and more frequently, had comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiac arrhythmia. Increased Charlson index, lower BMI and female sex were independent factors associated with OHS in the elderly.
Keywords: Afro-Caribbean descent; chronic hypercapnia; chronic respiratory failure; elderly; obesity hypoventilation syndrome.