Mixed
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) alone does not significantly reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
If you have sleep apnea, using CPAP is important for your breathing and sleep quality, but it is not enough to protect your heart on its own. You must actively manage other risk factors like weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol through lifestyle changes and medical management.
While clinical medicine emphasizes improving CV health through improving CPAP adherence, there is insufficient evidence to justify CPAP alone for improving CV health outcomes in OSA.
Why this rating
Based on multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) cited (SAVE, RICCADSA, ISAACC) showing no meaningful CV benefit.
Source
Beyond continuous positive airway pressure for cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
William Healy et al. · SLEEP Advances · 2024
DOI 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpae094
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