Background: Sleep apnea is one of the sleep breathing disorders associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that increases the risk of mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between sleep apnea and the metabolic syndrome in elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Materials and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 200 elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases in Saqqez's Imam Khomeini's Hospital in 2014 with convenience sampling. ATP3 index and STOP scale were used to determine sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome, respectively. Data were analyzed by PASW software using descriptive statistics, independent t test and Chi square at the significant level of <0.05.

Results: 48% and 73% of patients with cardiovascular diseases had metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea, respectively. There was an association between metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea in women, so that the chance of metabolic syndrome in women with sleep apnea was 2.4 times more than others (OR=2.4, 95%CI: 1.3-4.3, p=0.003). Among the components of metabolic syndrome, only systolic blood pressure was associated with sleep apnea (p=0.004).

Conclusion: Given the prevalence of sleep apnea and metabolic syndrome in elderly patients with cardiovascular diseases, these two variables should be considered simultaneously.

Keywords: Sleep apnea, Metabolic syndrome, Cardiovascular diseases, Elderly.