Effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure on neuropsychological function in sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome - A randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Citation
Kg. Henke et al., Effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure on neuropsychological function in sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome - A randomized, placebo-controlled trial, AM J R CRIT, 163(4), 2001, pp. 911-917
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","da verificare
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
ISSN journal
1073449X → ACNP
Volume
163
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
911 - 917
Database
ISI
SICI code
1073-449X(200103)163:4<911:EONCPA>2.0.ZU;2-0
Abstract
A placebo-controlled, partial cross-over, double-blind, randomized study wa s performed with 46 adults with sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) to det ermine the effect of therapeutic and subtherapeutic (0-1 cm H2O) nasal cont inuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on polysomnographic and ne uropsychological testing. The following neuropsychological tests were admin istered: Geriatric Depression Scale, Trail Making A and B, Digit Span Test Forward and Backward, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, SteerClear, Digit Symbol, C ontrolled Oral Word Association, and Complex Figure Recall. Compared with r esults without CPAP, subtherapeutic CPAP did not affect any measured polyso mnographic parameter. Comparison of neuropsychological test results obtaine d between the initial periods of effective treatment (Group 1, 16.1 d; Grou p 2, 19.6 d; p = NS) in all subjects showed significant improvements in Dig it Symbol, Digit Span Backward, and Complex Figure tests. However, there we re no group differences in changes in test results during the period when o ne group was on effective CPAP and the other on ineffective CPAP (Group 1, 16.1 d; Group 2, 13.9 d; p = NS). The results indicate the feasibility and importance of using ineffective CPAP as a placebo treatment and the importa nce of including a placebo control in studies evaluating the effect of trea tment on neuropsychological function in SAHS.