BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea (OSAH) is a risk factor for development of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and can worse the control of established SAH. We investigated the effects of long-term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in controlling and preventing SAH in a large cohort of subjects referred for sleep study for suspected OSAH. METHODS: In 495 subjects of whom 422 with OSAH and 73 without OSAH, the clinical history was obtained, arterial blood pressure was measured and the current anti-hypertensive drugs was recorded at diagnosis and/or at CPAP start. Subjects were interviewed after a follow-up period of (mean ± SD) 3.4 ± 2.2 yr (range 1-8 yr) and divided in patients with moderate-to-severe OSAH (n = 125) who referred to use CPAP regularly for at least 4 h every night (group 1), with moderate-to-severe OSAH (n = 70) who refused or abandoned the CPAP treatment after few weeks (group 2), with mild OSAH (n = 227) with no CPAP indication (group 3) and simple snorers or normals (n = 73) (group 4). For each group clinical status, BMI, and changes in SAH therapy and occurrence of SAH were assessed at the follow-up. RESULTS: At the follow-up, a higher risk of increasing treatment for SAH was found for group 2 and group 3 versus group 1 (OR = 5, 95%CI 1-20, p < 0.01 and OR = 3, 95%CI 1-10, p < 0.05), respectively. The occurrence of SAH was lower (p < 0.001) in the group 1 (1.9%), vs group 2 (35.9%), 3 (21.1%) and 4 (18.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In moderate-to-severe OSAH patients, long-term CPAP treatment significantly reduces the development of SAH and, in those with SAH at baseline, the need of anti-hypertensive drugs.
BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea (OSAH) is a risk factor for development of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and can worse the control of established SAH. We investigated the effects of long-term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in controlling and preventing SAH in a large cohort of subjects referred for sleep study for suspected OSAH. METHODS: In 495 subjects of whom 422 with OSAH and 73 without OSAH, the clinical history was obtained, arterial blood pressure was measured and the current anti-hypertensive drugs was recorded at diagnosis and/or at CPAP start. Subjects were interviewed after a follow-up period of (mean ± SD) 3.4 ± 2.2 yr (range 1-8 yr) and divided in patients with moderate-to-severe OSAH (n = 125) who referred to use CPAP regularly for at least 4 h every night (group 1), with moderate-to-severe OSAH (n = 70) who refused or abandoned the CPAP treatment after few weeks (group 2), with mild OSAH (n = 227) with no CPAP indication (group 3) and simple snorers or normals (n = 73) (group 4). For each group clinical status, BMI, and changes in SAH therapy and occurrence of SAH were assessed at the follow-up. RESULTS: At the follow-up, a higher risk of increasing treatment for SAH was found for group 2 and group 3 versus group 1 (OR = 5, 95%CI 1-20, p < 0.01 and OR = 3, 95%CI 1-10, p < 0.05), respectively. The occurrence of SAH was lower (p < 0.001) in the group 1 (1.9%), vs group 2 (35.9%), 3 (21.1%) and 4 (18.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In moderate-to-severe OSAH patients, long-term CPAP treatment significantly reduces the development of SAH and, in those with SAH at baseline, the need of anti-hypertensive drugs.