Sleep apnea treatment reduces risk of heart attack and stroke by more than 70%

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a clinical disorder characterized by frequent pauses in breathing while sleeping, accompanied by loud snoring. During these pauses, the supply of oxygen to the body and the removal of carbon dioxide are interrupted. To open the airways, the brain causes a short awakening, which significantly worsens the quality of sleep. Each pause in breathing is accompanied by a sharp increase in blood pressure, which leads to chronic hypertension and significantly increases the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular events.

The most common treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This involves using a machine that delivers air at a certain pressure into the airways through a silicone mask all night. Because it creates some discomfort, some patients refuse this type of treatment. Researchers at the University of Kansas assessed the risks of stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular events in patients who use CPAP and those who do not.

Scientists analyzed data from 13.9 thousand patients with obstructive apnea who did not use CPAP therapy and 20.8 thousand people with the same diagnosis but without CPAP therapy. For comparison, the analysis included data from 11.1 thousand people who do not have this problem.

After adjusting for the results, it turned out that patients with obstructive apnea who refuse CPAP breathing support during sleep have a 71% higher risk of a first stroke, heart attack, unstable angina or heart failure, and other dangerous conditions compared to patients who use this treatment method.

“We found that the effectiveness of CPAP was higher in patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea and in people who used the device for an average of more than 4 hours per night,” the study authors reported , emphasizing that CPAP therapy plays an important role in preventing cardiovascular risks in this group of patients.