Background: Several pieces of evidence demonstrated poor sleep quality is associated with frailty. However, the study demonstrates the association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and frailty is still limited.

Objective: To determine the association between the older adults who had a high-risk of OSA and adverse events including frailty, cognitive frailty, quality of life, history of admission within previous year and history falling within previous 6 months. 

Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 1, 2019, to January 31, 2022, at Srinagarind Hospital, Thailand. Participants aged ≥ 60 years who visited outpatient of internal medicine department were included. The Thai Frailty Index (TFI) was used to evaluate frailty status. STOP-BANG questionnaire was used to evaluate the risk of OSA and a score ≥ 3 was defined as a high-risk of OSA. The demographic data, TFI, the Thai version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief – Old and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were obtained. The association between the older adults who had a high-risk of OSA and adverse events was analyzed by multiple logistic regression and presented as adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results: A total of 198 participants were included. The older adults who had a high-risk of OSA was 124 (62.6%). The older adults who had a high-risk of OSA were associated with frailty (aOR of 3.37, 95% CI 1.56-7.71, p-value =0.003). The older adults who had a high-risk of OSA were not associated with cognitive frailty, fair quality of life, history of admission within previous year and falling within previous 6 months. 

Conclusion: The older adults who had a high-risk of OSA were associated with frailty. The screening and diagnosis of OSA are recommended for the older adults who attend the outpatient clinic.

Keywords: Frailty, high-risk of OSA, older adults