The journal Sleep and Breathing found that sleep apnea treatment reduced the risk of hospitalization and death for advanced heart failure patients.  The study included 18 patients with advanced heart failure and sleep apnea.

Eleven patients underwent CPAP therapy using the machine for at least four hours per night, 70% of the nights.  Seven patients tried a two week trial of CPAP but refused to continue treatment – they were the control group.  The patients were followed every two months for a year.  The number of deaths and hospitalizations due to heart failure were monitored by the researchers.

Two patients (18%) of the CPAP group were hospitalized.  Compare this to four of the untreated patients (57%) were hospitalized.  All of the patients treating their sleep apnea survived the full year.  Two of the seven patients who did not treat their sleep apnea died.

The researchers concluded that sleep apnea treatment impacted the patients cardiac function and quality of life six months into the study.  They also found that heart function remained improved for the treated patients after 12 months.

CPAP is the most common sleep apnea treatment but a high percentage of patients cannot tolerate sleeping with the machine.  Those that can tolerate treatment usually don’t use in 100% of the time (see the trial above – patients were only expected to use the machine for 4 hours).

Oral appliance therapy is a popular alternative to CPAP machines.  Oral appliances work by moving your jaw into a position that keeps the airway open and allows for a full night of sleep with no apnea events.

If you or a loved one suffers from obstructive sleep apnea and is unable to tolerate CPAP therapy please contact your Columbus, Ohio area dental sleep medicine specialist today at 614-476-6696.  You deserve a good night’s sleep!