Actively Recruiting
Sleep Apnea in Elderly
Led by VA Office of Research and Development · Updated on 2025-09-23
100
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
578 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB or sleep apnea) is very common among elderly Veterans and leads to increased morbidity and mortality in this population. The proposal aims to identity whether oxygen, finasteride and acetazolamide can be effective in reducing unstable breathing and eliminating sleep apnea in the elderly via different mechanisms. This proposal will enhance the investigators' understanding of the pathways that contribute to the development of sleep apnea in the elderly. The investigators expect that the results obtained from this study will positively impact the health of Veterans by identifying new treatment modalities for sleep apnea. A cumulative effect of the investigators' research will fulfill the long-term goal of improving the quality of life of elderly Veterans suffering from sleep apnea and its potential life-threatening complications.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Sleep Apnea in Elderly
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adults aged 60 years and older with mild to moderate sleep apnea having an apnea-hypopnea index between 5 and 20 per hour including central, obstructive, mixed apneas and hypopneas
- Elderly men meeting the above criteria for participation in the finasteride treatment protocol
You will not qualify if you...
- Severe sleep apnea with an apnea-hypopnea index greater than 20 per hour
- History of prostate cancer
- Males with hypogonadism
- History of cardiac disease including myocardial infarction, bypass surgery, atrial and ventricular tachy-bradycardias, systolic congestive heart failure, and Cheyne-Stokes respiration
- Current unstable angina
- History of stroke
- Schizophrenia
- Untreated hypothyroidism
- Seizure disorder
- Preexisting renal failure and liver disorders
- Failure to give informed consent
- Significant pulmonary diseases or abnormal lung function tests including moderate obstructive or restrictive lung or chest wall disorders with resting oxygen saturation below 96% or on supplemental oxygen
- Use of certain medications including study drugs, sympathomimetics, parasympathomimetics or their blockers, narcotics, antidepressants, antipsychotic agents, other central nervous system altering medications
- Current use of alcohol, tobacco, or recreational drugs
- Body mass index over 34 kg/m2
- Unstable gait or mobility issues that may prevent safe participation
- Allergy to finasteride or acetazolamide for relevant treatment phases
- Pregnancy or pregnant women
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI
Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48201-1916
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
R
Ruchi Rastogi, MS
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
CROSSOVER
Primary Purpose
OTHER
Number of Arms
3
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