Introduction:

Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is caused by an obstruction in the upper airway during sleep. Obesity and advanced age are main risk factors for OSAHS. The classic symptoms of OSAHS include snoring, apneas and choking during sleep. On the other hand, some scientific literature describes that the consumption of benzodiazepines may worsen the snoring and the severity and duration of OSAHS.

Case report:

A 74-year-old female reported on her appointment to have mood alterations. When asked about other sleep disorders, she said that she snored loudly, with pauses on her breathing. Therefore, a split night polysomnography was performed which revealed a diagnosis of severe OSAHS.

Discussion:

Old people are frequent consumers of benzodiazepines. The woman of this study had been taking 1.5 mg of clonazepam per day for the last eight years. This may have worsened the OSAHS.

Conclusion:

The patient presented risk factors that could lead to OSAHS. It is important to study the relationship between benzodiazepines and the severity of OSAHS.