CPAP
May Protect Sleep Apnea Patients Against Death from Heart Disease
Treating sleep apnea patients with CPAP may reduce their risk
of dying from heart disease.
American College of Chest Physicians
Chest | 06/13/2005 Sleepeducation.com Research Summary
Treating sleep apnea patients with continuous
positive airway pressure, also known as CPAP, may reduce their
risk of dying from heart disease.
Results of the study are published in the June issue of the
journal Chest.
Researchers monitored 168 patients with obstructive sleep apnea
for an average of 7.5 years. Results were compared among 107
of the patients who used CPAP and 61 patients who discontinued
its use.
Results show that 14.8 percent of the untreated patients died
from heart disease during the follow-up period, compared with
only 1.9 percent of the CPAP patients.
The researchers also measured the total number of cardiovascular
events, including the following:
• Death
• Congestive heart failure
• High blood pressure
• Stroke
The total number of these events was also significantly greater
in the untreated group, 31 percent, compared to the CPAP group,
18 percent.
According to the authors, the extended use of CPAP by sleep
apnea patients may protect them against heart disease that is
related to the sleep disorder. CPAP therapy also produces other
health benefits such as improved daytime alertness.
Members of the two study groups were similar in their ages,
body mass indexes, and heart disease risk factors. Patients
in the untreated group did have significantly lower ratings
of sleep apnea severity than the CPAP patients.
Chest is a peer-reviewed journal published by the American College
of Chest Physicians.
