CPAP Treatment Lowers BP in Hypertensive Patients with Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a risk factor for hypertension; prior studies suggest that treating OSA patients with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) lowers blood pressure (BP). In this multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial, Spanish investigators assessed the effect of CPAP on 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring values in patients with newly diagnosed untreated systemic hypertension (systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg, diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg, or both) and OSA (apnea-hypopnea index per hour of sleep >15 events/hour).

For 3 months, 340 patients (mean age, 52) received either CPAP or sham CPAP (CPAP at <1 cm H₂O). In the intent-to-treat analysis, patients randomized to CPAP experienced significant decreases in mean 24-hour ambulatory systoli…