Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Sleep Architecture in the Sleep Apnea–Hypopnea Syndrome
- S-Med
- Jun 5
- 1 min read
This is the first randomized placebo-controlled trial study to show that patients with SAHS have improved sleep architecture after 1 mo of CPAP treatment. CPAP treatment resulted in better sleep quality with fewer arousals, less light (Stage 1) sleep, and more deep (Stage 3 4) sleep. Although unsurprising, this adds important new randomized placebo-controlled evidence of efficacy of CPAP in SAHS. The study also showed
that median nightly CPAP use at 6–12 mo had little correlation with PSG variables. Commonly used sleep indices on CPAP (assessed after 1 mo) were related to long-term benefit as assessed by change in Epworth score after 6–12 mo of CPAP from that on placebo. The sleep efficiency during CPAP was the best predictor of long-term benefit from CPAP and was also related to median nightly CPAP use at 6–12 month.
Our data on the effect of CPAP on sleep quality confirm and extend a number of studies that have measured PSG sleep indices before and after patients with SAHS started CPAP
treatment. These found an increased time in Stage 3+4 (7–9) and Stage REM (8–10), and reduced time in Stage 1 (7–10); while some found increased Stage 2 (8) and reduced Stage REM (7) and 3 + 4 sleep latency (7). However, such “before and after” studies do not allow for first-night effects, which can mean that sleep quality improves after the first study night because of acclimatization.
Comments