In this study, we examined the impact of CPAP therapy on quantitative changes in retinal vasculature in patients with OSA. In patients with severe OSA, progressive retinal arterial narrowing was seen in those non adherent with or not using CPAP. These changes were significantly reduced and even reversed by CPAP therapy. The beneficial effect of CPAP remained statistically significant when accounting for vascular confounding factors such as age, BMI, and hypertension.
In this study, we used CRAE and A
VR as markers of retinal arterial caliber. CPAP users, regardless of severity of OSA, showed a statistically significant increase in CRAE from baseline, compared with a decrease for the non treatment group. Generalized retinal
arterial narrowing is shown to be associated with an increased risk of stroke. There is also evidence for an association between retinal arterial narrowing and coronary heart disease in certain populations.
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