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People with heart failure and obstructive sleep apnea may benefit if both conditions are treated, according to a study of 24 patients. Twelve received continuous positive airway pressure to treat their sleep apnea, and 12 did not. Those who did experienced an improvement in their heart failure symptoms. Sleep apnea occurs when people stop breathing temporarily throughout the night.

Summary: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk of developing metabolic disease such as diabetes. The effects of positive airway pressure on glycemic control are contradictory. We therefore evaluated the change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in a large cohort of OSA patients after long‐term treatment with positive airway pressure. HbA1c levels were assessed in a subsample of the European Sleep Apnea Database [n=1608] at baseline and at long‐term follow up with positive airway pressure therapy (mean 378.9±423.0 days). In a regression analysis, treatment response was controlled for important confounders. Overall, HbA1c decreased from 5.98±1.01% to 5.93±0.98% (p=0.001). Patient subgroups with a more pronounced HbA1c response included patients with diabetes (−0.15±1.02, p=0.019), those with severe OSA baseline (−0.10±0.68, p=0.005), those with morbid obesity (−0.20±0.81, p<0.001). The strongest HbA1c reduction was observed in patients with a concomitant weight reduction >5 kilos (−0.38±0.99, p<0.001). In robust regression analysis, severe OSA (p=0.038) and morbid obesity (p=0.005) at baseline, and weight reduction >5 kilos (p<0.001) during follow up were independently associated with a reduction of HbA1c following PAP treatment. In contrast, PAP treatment alone without weight reduction was not associated with significant Hb1Ac reduction. In conclusion, positive airway pressure therapy is associated with HbA1c reduction in patients with severe OSA, in morbidly obese patients. and most obviously in those with significant weight lost during the follow‐up. Our study underlines the importance to combine positive airway pressure use with adjustments in lifestyle to substantially modify metabolic complications in OSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coaching as a lifestyle modification approach to weight management is insufficiently explored in obstructive sleep apnoea. We investigated anthropometry and body composition after 20 weeks of Erickson coaching in 26 obstructive sleep apnoea patients (19 males; 47.6 ± 2.4 years). Body weight, neck circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and %body fat significantly decreased after 20 weeks. The mean weight loss was 5.2 per cent ± 1.0 per cent; 20 (77%) participants achieved target reduction of >3 per cent. Coaching session attendance (p = 0.006) and reaching personal goal related to physical performance (p = 0.044) were independently associated with weight loss (multiple regression model R 2 = 0.608, p < 0.001). Erickson solution-focused coaching supports adherence to healthy lifestyle and weight reduction in obstructive sleep apnoea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess whether hostility and coping self-efficacy are associated with psychological distress in obstructive sleep apnoea patients. Furthermore, we examined whether coping self-efficacy mediates the association between hostility and psychological distress. We included 150 obstructive sleep apnoea patients (Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index ⩾5; 68% male; mean age: 48.9 ± 9.5 years). Regression models showed that hostility and poor coping self-efficacy were strongly associated with psychological distress in obstructive sleep apnoea patients. All assessed coping self-efficacy dimensions mediated the association between hostility and psychological distress. Coping self-efficacy for stopping unpleasant emotions and thoughts showed the strongest association with a lower level of psychological distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation and to examine the relationships between obstructive sleep apnoea severity, sleep-related problems, social support and suicidal ideation in obstructive sleep apnoea patients. We included 149 patients (68% male; mean age, 48.99 ± 9.57 years) with diagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea (Apnoea–Hypopnoea Index ⩾5) based on full-night polysomnography. The prevalence of suicidal ideation among obstructive sleep apnoea patients was 20.1 per cent. Structural equation modelling showed that suicidal ideation in obstructive sleep apnoea was strongly related to poor sleep quality and high fatigue levels. No relationship between social support and suicidal ideation in obstructive sleep apnoea patients was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine whether Obstructive Sleep Apnoea severity, sleep-related problems, and anxiety are associated with work functioning in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea patients, when controlled for age, gender and type of occupation. To investigate whether anxiety moderates the associations between sleep-related problems and work functioning. Materials and methods: We included 105 Obstructive Sleep Apnoea patients (70% male; mean age 46.62 ± 9.79 years). All patients completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Work Role Functioning Questionnaire-2.0. Results: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea-severity, poor nighttime sleep quality, and anxiety were univariately associated with impaired work functioning. Multivariate analyzes revealed that poor perceived sleep quality was more strongly associated with work functioning than sleep efficiency and daily disturbances. Anxiety was strongly associated with impaired work functioning. After adding anxiety, the explained variance in work functioning increased from 20% to 25%. Anxiety moderated the association between low and medium levels of nighttime sleep quality problems and work functioning. Conclusions: Poor perceived sleep quality and anxiety were strongly associated with impaired work functioning in Obstructive Sleep Apnoea patients. These findings may help to optimize management, standard treatment, and work functioning in people with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea when confirmed in longitudinal studies. Studies show an impairment of functional status, including work functioning, in obstructive sleep apnea patients. Aside from physical disorders, obstructive sleep apnea patients often experience mental problems, such as anxiety. As many people with obstructive sleep apnea are undiagnosed, our results demonstrate to employers and healthcare professionals the need to encourage patients for obstructive sleep apnea screening, especially in the situation of impaired work functioning, increased anxiety, and poor sleep quality. The associations between obstructive sleep apnea, sleep and anxiety might increase the awareness of health professionals towards optimizing diagnostic accuracy and standard treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]