Real-world impact of continuous positive airway pressure on sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea in a national registry

OBJECTIVE: Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) persists in some patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) despite continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. This study characterized response to CPAP and factors associated with residual EDS.

METHODS: Danish National Patient Registry data were analyzed. Patients with OSA diagnosis (1994-2016), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores and apnea-hypopnea index recorded before beginning CPAP (baseline) and after 1-13 months of CPAP use, and CPAP adherence were included. Odds ratios (OR) for residual EDS after CPAP treatment were estimated using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS: Of 1174 patients (mean age, 57 years; 75.5% male), 41.1% had baseline EDS (mild, 13.2%; moderate, 14.0%; severe, 13.9%); 58.9% did not. After CPAP treatment, follow-up mean ESS scores were normal (≤10) for all baseline EDS subgroups; however, 15.6% (n = 183) of patients had residual EDS (mild, 6.7%; moderate, 5.5%; severe, 3.4%). Odds of residual EDS were higher for patients with mild (OR, 5.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.2-8.6), moderate (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 2.7-7.4), and severe (OR, 13.0; 95% CI, 8.0-21.2) EDS at baseline compared with those with normal daytime sleepiness at baseline. Patients adherent with CPAP use were 38.2% less likely to have residual EDS compared with nonadherent patients (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.43-0.88).

CONCLUSIONS: EDS was common in this cohort of Danish patients with OSA. Baseline EDS severity predicted higher odds of residual EDS. After CPAP treatment, adherence was associated with reduced odds of residual EDS, but EDS persisted in a subgroup of patients.