This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

CPAP therapy reduces risk for repeat revascularization after PCI

Untreated obstructive sleep apnea was associated with an increased risk for repeat revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention, while continuous positive airway pressure therapy reduced that risk, according to study results.

Researchers in China and Chicago identified 390 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between 2002 and 2012. The researchers assessed the influence of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on PCI outcomes.

Patients were separated into groups: those with moderate to severe OSA successfully treated with CPAP (n = 128), patients with untreated moderate to severe OSA (n = 167) and patients with untreated mild OSA (n = 95).

The untreated moderate to severe OSA group had a greater incidence of repeat revascularization (25.1%) than the moderate to severe OSA group treated with CPAP (14.1%; P = .019). Mortality, major adverse cardiac events (MACE), and major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (MACCE) were similar for all groups.

Using multivariate analysis, patients with untreated moderate to severe OSA also had a greater risk for repeat revascularization (HR = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.19-3.81). Untreated moderate to severe OSA, however, was not linked with an increased risk for MACE (HR = 1.19; 95% CI, 0.67-2.12) nor MACCE (HR = 1.16; 95% CI, 0.7-1.92).

“This study shows that in patients undergoing PCI, the incidence of repeat revascularization is significantly higher in those with untreated moderate to severe OSA than in those with OSA treated with CPAP,” the researchers wrote.

Disclosure: Wu reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures