Treatment with CPAP does not prevent cardiovascular problems in patients with sleep apnea

Lleida, 30 d'agost de 2016 Treatment with CPAP does not contribute to diminishing the likelihood of cardiovascular problems in patients with severe sleep apnea, according to an international study led by the state Olga Mediano (Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara) and Ferran Barbé (Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida Dr. Pifarré Foundation (IRBLleida), both of the Center for Biomedical Research Network Respiratory Disease (CIBERES). Devices continuous positive pressure in the airways, CPAP are commonly used to treat sleep apnea and work blowing pressurized air to the airway through a mask. Researchers participating in this clinical study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, concluded that patients with sleep apnea syndrome with moderate or severe heart disease or stroke, treatment with CPAP devices it helps to avoid problems serious cardiovascular, such as death, myocardial infarction, stroke or hospitalization for unstable angina, heart failure or transient ischemic attack. The use of CPAP devices, however, it improves the quality of life and mood, and reduces snoring and daytime sleepiness. In this research, led by R. Doug McEvoy, of the University of Adelaide (Australia), analyzed 2,717 adults from different countries and between the ages of 45 and 75 years with moderate to severe sleep apnea and heart disease or cerebrovascular . They have been subjected to random treatment with CPAP or just implementing measures follow common cardiovascular disease. "Further studies are needed to definitively establish the role of CPAP treatment in cardiovascular secondary prevention in patients with sleep apnea," said Ferran Barbé, Head of Respiratory Medicine at the University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova in Lleida, researcher main Research Group Translational Medicine Respiratory IRBLleida, professor at the University of Lleida and scientific director of CIBERES. In Spain, the study was funded Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII) and the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR). This work has been coordinated in Spain by Olga Mediano, a researcher at the Hospital de Guadalajara and CIBERES. They have participated in the project other hospitals like the Hospital Parc Tauli (Sabadell), 12 de Octubre Hospital (Madrid) and the Hospital of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Vitoria). About Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea, which is the repeated interruption of breathing during sleep due to the lack of oxygen, affects approximately 13% of men and 6% of women and its prevalence has increased in last two decades, in parallel to the increase in obesity. This condition is frequently associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Reference article: R. Doug McEvoy et al. CPAP for Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The New England Journal of Medicine August 28, 2016. [Epub ahead of print]. DOI: 10.1056 / NEJMoa1606599 CIBERES The Biomedical Research Center Respiratory Disease Network (CIBERES), which depends on the Carlos III Health Institute (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness) and is co-financed by the ERDF, aims to encourage and facilitate research into diseases respiratory through quality research and its translation quickly and securely to clinical practice. Created in 2007, CIBER currently brings together nearly 400 researchers from nine autonomous communities working together on three programs, which integrate the research as follows: lung cancer, sleep apnea, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma, acute lung injury, tuberculosis, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and new therapeutic targets. IRBLleida The Institute of Biomedical Research Foundation Dr. Lleida Pifarré (IRBLleida) brings together all biomedical research that is carried out in Lleida. More than 350 researchers are part of the center and they supported his dedication to research with other activities: first, education expert at the University of Lleida (UDL) degrees in medicine, nursing and physiotherapy and biomedicine, mainly and on the other hand, health care at the University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital Santa Maria and primary care health Region Lleida. The IRBLleida has Biomedical Research Center Experimental Applied (CREB) located in Torrelameu aimed at learning new procedures and surgical techniques, and experimenting with new materials and medical devices. Since late 2015 CREB is equipped with the most advanced training and experimental operating state.