Short-Term CPAP Improves Biventricular Function in Patients with Moderate-Severe OSA and Cardiometabolic Comorbidities

• Published in: Diagnostics (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 5; p. 889
• Main Authors: Zota, Ioana Mădălina, Sascău, Radu Andy, Stătescu, Cristian, Tinică, Grigore, Leon Constantin, Maria Magdalena, Roca, Mihai, Boișteanu, Daniela, Anghel, Larisa, Mitu, Ovidiu, Mitu, Florin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 17.05.2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Blood pressure; Body mass index; Cardiovascular disease; Compliance; Continuous positive airway pressure; CPAP; Heart; Hypertension; Integrated software; LV-GLS; OSA; Patients; Sleep apnea; speckle tracking
• ISSN: 2075-4418; 2075-4418
• DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11050889

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep-disordered breathing, exhibiting an increasing prevalence and several cardiovascular complications. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold-standard treatment for moderate-severe OSA, but it is associated with poor patient adherence. We performed a prospective study that included 57 patients with newly diagnosed moderate-severe OSA, prior to CPAP initiation. The objective of our study was to assess the impact of short-term CPAP on ventricular function in patients with moderate-severe OSA and cardiometabolic comorbidities. The patients underwent a clinical exam, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and comprehensive echocardiographic assessment at baseline and after 8 weeks of CPAP. Hypertension, obesity and diabetes were highly prevalent among patients with moderate-severe OSA. Baseline echocardiographic parameters did not significantly differ between patients with moderate and severe OSA. Short-term CPAP improved left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS), isovolumetric relaxation time, transmitral E wave amplitude, transmitral E/A ratio, right ventricular (RV) diameter, RV wall thickness, RV systolic excursion velocity (RV S‘) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). Short-term CPAP improves biventricular function, especially the LV-GLS, which is a more sensitive marker of CPAP-induced changes in LV systolic function, compared to LVEF. All these benefits are dependent on CPAP adherence.