Continuous positive airway pressure also increases energy and reduces sleepiness in some
TUESDAY, Jan. 4 (HealthDay News) -- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may reduce fatigue and increase energy in individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to research published in the January issue of SLEEP.
To clarify the effect CPAP has on fatigue, Lianne M. Tomfohr, of San Diego State University and the University of California at San Diego, and colleagues randomly assigned 59 men and women with OSA to therapeutic CPAP or placebo CPAP for three weeks.
The researchers found that patients who received therapeutic CPAP experienced significant reductions in the apnea-hypopnea index, increased vigor, and decreased fatigue; the benefits were most notable in those with high levels of fatigue at baseline. In addition, in a subset of patients who had excessive sleepiness at treatment onset, Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores were reduced significantly with therapeutic CPAP use.
"Results suggest that three weeks of therapeutic CPAP significantly reduced fatigue and increased energy in patients with OSA. Therapeutic CPAP significantly reduced daytime sleepiness in patients who reported excessive sleepiness at the onset of treatment," the authors write.
Two authors disclosed financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies.
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