The ineffectiveness of magnotherapy in a patient with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and cardiovascular comorbidity.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with mild to severe cardiovascular risks. The most common standard treatment for OSAS, continuous positive airway pressure, was found to have beneficial effects on cardiovascular sequelae of OSAS. Additionally, commercial companies promote nonprescription treatments for OSAS. These products frequently lack scientific support for their efficacy and need further research. We report an objective test of magnetic therapy, one such product, in a patient with OSAS and cardiovascular comorbidities. Two nights of polysomnographic recording using the split-night protocol did not reveal any consistent differences in OSAS symptoms whether the patient slept with or without the magnetic equipment. It was concluded that magnetic treatment was unsuccessful in reducing OSAS symptoms in our patient and may even increase possible cardiovascular and stroke risks by preventing the patient from pursuing an adequate medical treatment, such as continuous positive airway pressure.