Mediterranean-type Diet for Older Adults With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The majority of the elderly present with sleep apnea and mortality is significantly higher in this group. Sleep apnea runs the risk of developing diseases, especially hypertension and cardiovascular disease, while the Mediterranean diet is associated with reduced risk. No study evaluated the effect of the Mediterranean diet on the apnea and hypopnea index in the elderly. Therefore, the present work intends to evaluate the effect of the intervention with the Mediterranean diet on the apnea-hypopnea index in the elderly with moderate sleep apnea. The hypothesis study is that the elderly with moderately severe sleep apnea under a Mediterranean-type diet will modify AHI in the short term, regardless of weight change, due to changes in body volume and ingestion, especially those related to body water.