Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and social support in elder patients.

Social support is a very important aspect in debilitating diseases. OSAS is a disabling disease that impairs social functioning and accounts for a large socio-economic burden for the community. In this study our aim is to investigate social support levels among OSAS patients: 85 of them with the diagnosis of OSAS were enrolled in the study. Multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS) is used to measure the perception of individuals' social support sufficiency. In contrast to many studies, we found that social support levels of elder patients were higher than the young ones and family subscale was significantly higher. It might be both due to Turkish family structure that the grands are in close relationship with the other family members and the adverse effects of the disease which have more negative impact on young patients' life. In conclusion, social support is an important aspect in OSAS patients. The interventions for the enhancement of social support could lead to substantial cost-savings, reduce morbidity, and increase well-being.