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

CPAP can alleviate depression associated with sleep apnea

Symptoms of depression are common among individuals with obstructive sleep apnea and appear related to the severity of the condition, according to results of a study conducted in Australia.

Continuous positive airway pressure therapy can alleviate depressive symptoms in this patient population, researchers determined.

Cass Edwards, BSc, of the School of Surgery at University of Western Australia, and colleagues identified 426 consecutive patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea who completed a baseline health questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms.

Patients determined to have moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea — defined as an apneahypopnea index (AHI) of 15 or more events per hour — as well as those with symptomatic or mild obstructive sleep apnea — defined as an AHI of five to 14.99 events per hour — were offered continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

Researchers offered a repeat PHQ-9 questionnaire after 3 months of CPAP therapy.

Edwards and colleagues used a cut point of at least 10 on the 27-point PHQ-9 scale to determine the presence of clinically significant depressive symptoms.

The mean BMI of patients was 32.1 ± 7.1 kg/m². Mean AHI was 33.6 ± 28.9 events per hour.

The mean PHQ-9 score was 10.5 ± 6.1, and the result appeared independently associated with AHI and BMI (P < .001 for both).

Researchers offered CPAP to 293 patients, the majority of whom (77.8%; n = 228) were compliant, defined as mean nightly use of at least 5 hours during the 3-month therapy course.

In the compliant group, AHI declined from 46.7 ± 27.4 events per hour to 6.5 ± 1.6 events per hour (P < .001). Mean PHQ-9 scores declined from 11.3 ± 6.1 to 3.7 ± 2.9 (P < .001). The percentage of those determined to have clinically significant depressive symptoms declined from 74.6% at baseline to 3.9% after 3 months of therapy (P < .001).

Researchers observed similar magnitudes of changes in women and men. – by Jeff Craven

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.