CPAP for Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Sleep Apnea

In a previous trial, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) did not lower the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and nonacute coronary or cerebrovascular disease (NEJM JW Gen Med Oct 1 2016 and N Engl J Med 2016; 375:919). Now, researchers have conducted another secondary prevention trial — but this time, patients were enrolled within the first 72 hours of hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome. About 2800 such patients were screened for OSA using respiratory polygraphy (i.e., measurement of airflow, oxygen saturation, and thoracic and abdominal movement); nearly 1300 received diagnoses of OSA (mean apnea-hypopnea index, 36 events/hour) and were randomized to receive either CPA…