Long-term positive airway pressure therapy is associated with reduced total cholesterol levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea : data from the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA)

Background and aim: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an independent risk factor for dyslipidemia. The current study examined the effects of positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment on lipid status in the European Sleep Apnea Database (ESADA). Methods: The prospective cohort study enrolled 1564 OSA subjects (74% male, mean age 54 ± 11y, body mass index (BMI) 32.7 ± 6.6 kg/m2 and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) 40.3 ± 24.4 n/h) undergoing PAP therapy for at least three months (mean 377.6 ± 419.5 days). Baseline and follow-up total cholesterol (TC) from nine centers were analyzed. Repeated measures and logistic regression tests (adjusted for age, sex, weight changes, lipid lowering medication, PAP …