Positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment reduces glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in obstructive sleep apnea patients with concomitant weight loss : longitudinal data from the ESADA

Abstract: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk of developing metabolic disease such as diabetes. The effects of positive airway pressure on glycemic control are contradictory. We therefore evaluated the change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in a large cohort of OSA patients after long-term treatment with positive airway pressure. HbA1c levels were assessed in a subsample of the European Sleep Apnea Database [n=1608] at baseline and at long-term follow up with positive airway pressure therapy (mean 378.9 +/- 423.0 days). In a regression analysis, treatment response was controlled for important confounders. Overall, HbA1c decreased from 5.98 +/- 1.01% to 5.93 +/- …