Short-term CPAP May Not Lower Blood Pressure

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Short-term CPAP May Not Lower Blood Pressure

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=45089

New research shows that short-term continuous positive airway

pressure (CPAP) may have little affect on blood pressure in patients

with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and hypertension.

Researchers from Spain compared blood pressure readings of 68

patients with OSAS and hypertension who were receiving treatment with

antihypertensive medication. Patients were randomly assigned to

receive therapeutic or subtherapeutic CPAP for four weeks.

Antihypertensive treatment was not changed for either group. Baseline

scores for sleep apnea, as well as comorbidities, blood pressure, and

CPAP compliance, were similar between the groups. Results showed that

there were no significant changes in systolic, diastolic, daytime, or

nighttime blood pressure for either group. Researchers conclude that

short-term CPAP has little impact on patients with OSAS and well-

controlled hypertension. The study appears in the June issue of

CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest

Physicians.