[Efficacy of simple continuous positive airway pressure on patients with obstructive sleep apnea]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of simple device of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Methods: A double-blind study was performed on 53 OSA patients who received overnight simple CPAP and traditional CPAP in a random order during polysomnography. Pressure for CPAP treatment was manual titrated. The sleep apnea hypopnea index (AHI), arousal index (ArI), Oxygen desaturation Index (ODI), sleep structure and the preference for CPAP devices of the patients were observed. Results: AHI, ArI, ODI decreased significantly from 35.7 (18.1, 58.8)/h, (29.4±18.6)/h, 22.0 (13.9, 47.3)/h before treatment to 1.7 (0.7, 4.4)/h, (11.5±5.1) /h and 1.3 (0.4, 3.6)/h after treatment with simple CPAP, respectively (all P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in residual AHI [1.7 (0.7, 4.4)/h vs 1.9 (0.8, 4.3)/h], ArI [(11.5±5.1)/h vs (10.5±4.4)/h] and ODI [1.3 (0.4, 3.6)/h vs 1.3 (0.5, 4.2)/h] between treatment with simple CPAP and traditional CPAP (all P>0.05). The amount of time spent on deep sleep (stage Ⅲ) and rapid eye movement (REM) increased significantly from (6.2+ 6.6)% and (16.3+ 7.0)% before treatment to (11.7±8.5)% and (20.7±5.1)% during treatment with simple CPAP and (11.4±8.6)% and (20.9±5.0)% with traditional CPAP, respectively. The patients had no clear preference for two CPAP devices. Conclusion: Traditional CPAP can be replaced by the simple CPAP to treat patients with OSA.