PAP Adherence After Diet/Lifestyle Intervention in OSA Patients

We designed a parallel, randomized, controlled, clinical trial. Eligible participants are adult, overweight and obese men and women, diagnosed with moderate-to-severe OSA [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)≥15 events/h] through an attended overnight polysomnography. Participants, after written informed consent, were blindly randomized to a standard care group (SCG, n=37) and a Mediterranean diet group (MDG, n=37). Study groups were prescribed PAP. The SCG received oral healthy lifestyle advice and counseling on physical activity and sleep habits, while the MDG was additionally subjected to a 6-month behavioral intervention aiming at weight loss and increasing adherence to the Mediterranean diet. PAP adherence (hours of device use), BMI, daytime sleepiness, evaluated by Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and arterial blood pressure measurements were evaluated pre- and post-intervention.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged >18 years with newly diagnosed moderate to severe OSA [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)≥15 events/h] through an attended overnight polysomnographyaccording to standard criteria
• overweight and obese [BMI>25 kg/m2]
• eligible for PAP treatment with adherence data available in the 6-months after initiation of treatment and
• with an above-elementary school education.

Exclusion criteria

• refusal to participate
• patients on PAP treatment
• current participation in a weight loss program
• central sleep apnea syndromes
• obesity hypoventilation syndrome
• restrictive ventilator syndromes
• severe congestive heart failure
• a history of life-threatening arrhythmias
• severe cardiomyopathy
• long-term oxygen therapy
• chronic kidney disease
• family or personal history of mental illness
• drug or alcohol abuse
• severe cognitive impairment
• concurrent oncological diseases
• pregnancy or lactatio
• recent hospitalization for acute or chronic respiratory disease
• history of narcolepsy or restless leg syndrome