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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A
Vivi Leona Amelia1, Septi Melisa2, Jason C Hsu2,3,4,5
1Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Purwokerto, Indonesia.
Biological Research for Nursing
|August 10, 2026
Summary
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy may reduce cardiovascular risks in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients over five years. While beneficial for conditions like stroke and atrial fibrillation, benefits were not universal across all cardiovascular outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Sleep Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent and linked to significant cardiovascular morbidity.
- Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the standard OSA treatment, but its long-term cardiovascular impact requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the 5-year association between CPAP therapy and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in adult OSA patients.
- To determine if CPAP use mitigates cardiovascular risks in individuals without pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study utilizing the TriNetX global database (2014-2025).
- Included adults diagnosed with OSA, excluding those with prior cardiovascular disease.
- 1:1 propensity score matching compared 54,635 CPAP users with non-users, followed for up to 5 years.
Main Results:
- CPAP therapy showed significantly lower risks for stroke, transient ischemic attack, atrial fibrillation/flutter, bradycardia, ventricular arrhythmias, pericarditis, angina, major adverse cardiovascular events, and cardiac conduction disorders.
- No significant risk reduction was observed for pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction, or structural cardiac abnormalities.
- Sensitivity analyses confirmed the generalizability of most findings.
Conclusions:
- CPAP therapy is associated with reduced risks of several cardiovascular outcomes in OSA patients over a 5-year period.
- The cardiovascular benefits of CPAP are selective, not extending to all cardiovascular conditions.
- Further prospective and randomized studies are warranted to confirm these selective cardiovascular benefits.