Six months of CPAP therapy significantly reduced arterial stiffness (median LPWV 1279 vs 1398 cm/s) and inflammatory markers compared to standard care in patients with coronary heart disease and obstructive sleep apnea.
RCT (n=59)
Randomized
No
Does CPAP treatment improve arterial stiffness and inflammatory factors in patients with coronary heart disease and obstructive sleep apnea?
CPAP therapy added to standard medical care significantly improves arterial stiffness and reduces systemic inflammation in patients with coronary heart disease and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea.
Absolute Event Rate: 1279% vs 1398%
p-value: p=0.001
BACKGROUND: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) treatment brings more benefits than risks to most coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the pathophysiological mechanism by which CPAP treatment improves the prognosis of patients with CHD and OSA remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify whether CPAP can improve arterial stiffness and inflammatory factor levels in CHD patients with OSA, and to further improve prognosis. METHOD: 59 patients with coronary heart disease complicated by moderate to severe sleep apnea were divided into a CPAP treatment group (CPAP + coronary heart disease standard treatment) and a control group (only coronary heart disease standard treatment). Peripheral blood test reports were collected and pulse wave velocity (PWV) measurements were performed for each patient at the beginning, 3 months, and 6 months of treatment. RESULTS: After 6 months of treatment, the CPAP group showed more significant improvement in the levels of inflammatory factors such as white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (N), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), procalcitonin (PCT), and PWV than the control group. CONCLUSION: After active treatment with CPAP, arterial stiffness and inflammatory cytokine levels in patients with coronary heart disease and OSA improved. This association should be given more attention in clinical practice, and sleep apnea should be actively treated.
Wang et al. (2025) conducted an RCT in Coronary heart disease with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (n=59). Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) vs. Standardized treatment for coronary heart disease was evaluated on Left pulse wave velocity (LPWV) at 6 months (cm/s) (p=0.001). Six months of CPAP therapy significantly reduced arterial stiffness (median LPWV 1279 vs 1398 cm/s) and inflammatory markers compared to standard care in patients with coronary heart disease and obstructive sleep apnea.