Is CPAP Worthwhile in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Sleep Apnea?

Continuous positive airway pressure diminished sleepiness and improved functional outcomes in a sham-controlled trial.

Most studies of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have focused on patients with moderate-to-severe OSA. In contrast, this trial involved 239 patients with daytime sleepiness and either mild OSA (5–15 apneas or hypopneas hourly; 150 patients) or moderate OSA (15–30 events hourly; 89 patients). Patients were randomized to receive active or sham CPAP. The primary outcome was change in score on the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ), which assesses the effects of sleepiness on activity level, vigilance, sexual relationships, productivity, and social relationships.

At 8 weeks, mean FOSQ score improved significantly in the active-CPAP group (from 14 to 15; average score in people without sl…

Reviewing Author

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Allan S. Brett, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose