RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Sleep disordered breathing at the extremes of age: the elderly JF Breathe JO Breathe FD European Respiratory Society SP 50 OP 60 DO 10.1183/20734735.003216 VO 12 IS 1 A1 McMillan, Alison A1 Morrell, Mary J. YR 2016 UL http://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/12/1/50.abstract AB Key pointsSleep disordered breathing (SDB) is common and its prevalence increases with age. Despite this high prevalence, SDB is frequently unrecognised and undiagnosed in older people.There is accumulating evidence that SDB in older people is associated with worsening cardio- cerebrovascular, cognitive and functional outcomes.There is now good evidence to support the use of continuous positive airway pressure therapy in older patients with symptomatic SDB.Educational aimsTo highlight the prevalence and presentation of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in older people.To inform readers about the risk factors for SDB in older people.To explore the impact of SDB in older people.To introduce current evidence based treatment options for SDB in older people.Sleep disordered breathing (SBD) increases in prevalence as we age, most likely due to physiological and physical changes that occur with ageing. Additionally, SDB is associated with comorbidity and its subsequent polypharmacy, which may increase with increasing age. Finally, the increased prevalence of SDB is intrinsically linked to the obesity epidemic. SDB is associated with serious outcomes in younger people and, likewise, older people. Thus, identification, diagnosis and treatment of SDB is important irrelevant of age. This article reviews the age-related changes contributing to SDB, the epidemiology and the risk factors for SDB in older people, the association of SDB with adverse outcomes, and diagnostic and treatment options for this population.SDB is common in the elderly and treatment with CPAP therapy should be considered http://ow.ly/YSg5z