Lifespan RESEARCH on cpap use vs no cpap use?

[2Hulls]

Is there evidence that using CPAP increases the lifespan of peple with OSA, versus people with OSA that do not use CPAP?
I would like to see references to such research and the results.

[Julie]

Hi, with all due respect, have you done any (research)? We're not doctors or anything close, just patients trying to take care of ourselves in the face of an often ignorant and uncooperative system. I'm sure it wouldn't be difficult for you to find out what you're looking for and we'd all be very interested to hear what you find. Someone here might have Googled the question at some time over the years, but science changes so quickly these days and it's hard to sort out the 'right' info from the rest. Of course the easy answer is that Cpap keeps us (for an extended time anyway, compared to untreated patients) from having strokes, car accidents, etc. etc., but I don't know numbers for any of it or even how you'd really structure such an amorphous kind of study (or volunteer for one longterm!).

But I did find this - http://www.sleepmed.com/blog/does-cpap-prolong-life/

[Danilinn]

anyone could die tomorrow in a car accident or walking across the street, but using CPAP therapy will not kill you whereas not using CPAP therapy can.

I had a friend that passed in his sleep because he refused to use his CPAP. He was in his late 30's. do you think if he had been using it he would still be gone?
Of course it increases your lifespan, if it didn't none of us would be using it. I mean it is quite a pain in the butt!

But like Julie said we are just trying to take care of ourselves.

As far as references you should really find your own, there's a ton of info out there.

[Wulfman...]

Is there evidence that using CPAP increases the lifespan of peple with OSA, versus people with OSA that do not use CPAP?
I would like to see references to such research and the results.

This is a "no brainer". Of course it increases a person's lifespan.
Anybody that's been using this therapy SUCCESSFULLY for any length of time doesn't need any references for proof.

Need references? Use Google. (we would have to use it to find the references)


Den

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[chunkyfrog]

Some people believe that the moment of your death is preordained before you are born,
and nothing you do can alter that fate.
Since I do not ascribe to such foolishness, I use my machine every night, and enjoy the side benefits,
such as fewer health problems, a clearer head, fewer allergy symptoms, and less grouchiness due to no headache.
But it is your choice--just don't let your life insurance lapse, and consider long term care--you might need it.

[Wulfman...]

In your Google searching, try this one:

"does obstructive sleep apnea increase a person's chances of death"

And, then consider the fact that with "successful" XPAP therapy (used all night, every night and with an AHI < 5.0), you basically have no OSA.

How many people die in their sleep? Heart attacks, strokes, developing Diabetes and other health problems....... Many of those can be attributed to OSA.
And, then there's the problem of people with OSA falling asleep at the wheel of vehicles......they may cause their own death AND the deaths of other innocent people.


Den

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[BB6078]

Found these with a quick google

http://www.aasmnet.org/jcsm/ViewAbstract.aspx?pid=29071 COPD CPAP and mortality rates.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3147220/ Cpap, OSA and Cardiac Arrythymias.

http://www.rtjournalonline.com/osa.pdf Mortality in OSA - this article appears most useful although it's from 2007.
This is kind of a lit review of previous studies. The summary says yes, in untreated OSA the risk of death from all causes esp cardiovascular is significantly higher than those treated for OSA with CPAP.
Mortality as an outcome
Markers of disease severity in obstructive
sleep apnea
Cohort versus randomized controlled trials
- Obesity and mortality
- Mortality studies in obstructive sleep
apnea before 1995
- Mortality studies in obstructive sleep
apnea after 1995
- The Zaragoza sleep cohort study
- Effect of continuous positive airway
pressure on mortality in obstructive
sleep apnea
- Summary
- References

[JDS74]

Is there evidence that using CPAP increases the lifespan of peple with OSA, versus people with OSA that do not use CPAP?
I would like to see references to such research and the results.

Here is one article.
http://err.ersjournals.com/content/16/106/203.full.pdf

[zoocrewphoto]

How do you set up a long term study where you basically have a bunch of people agree NOT To use treatment for the rest of their lives? Also, a real study like this would need to keep track of people 10, 20, 30, 40 years. To have results now, would require this study to have started a long time ago.

[ChicagoGranny]

Is there evidence that using CPAP increases the lifespan of peple with OSA, versus people with OSA that do not use CPAP?
I would like to see references to such research and the results.

SMH.

First give us the references to research that says catamarans are more stable that monos.

[RobertS975]

As a physician, and as a CPAP user for the past several months, let me say that the question posed here is a very good one. The history of medicine is full of things we thought we knew for certain only to be disproven down the line. It is said that fully half the "facts" in any medical text will be proven invalid 15 years later!

The question is not whether CPAP allows for better sleep, or improved data on sleep studies and oximetry. That is not in doubt. But does it prolong survival?

The holy grail of medical research is a double-blind placebo controlled trial, and obviously, for reasons that others have pointed out on this thread, that would be impossible. One can do retrospective analysis of populations with OSA that have used CPAP and those that have not.

And I think we, as patients, always need to be wary when an entire industry have developed around OSA and its therapy. Just like back when it seemed obvious that a coronary artery bypass procedure was the clearly the way to go in coronary artery disease... well of course, now it is not so clear. One thing I tell my patients over and over again... what we as physicians do not yet know is astounding. And physicians and their patients must always keep an open mind with regard to what we believe we DO know and what we think should be obvious.

2Hulls poses an excellent question! As for me, I am a very compliant user for the past 5 months, and I "believe" that I am far better off than I was before starting therapy. I "believe" but do not know for certain that improved nocturnal oxygenation should and does benefit me in many ways. Hopefully that will translate into a healthier and longer life.

[Captain_Midnight]

2H asks...Is there evidence that using CPAP increases the lifespan of peple with OSA, versus people with OSA that do not use CPAP? Good question!

I agree w poster RobertS, in that I suspect that it does.

Setting up an epidemiological study might be a bit difficult. If we want to look back in time (retrospective) then we need to somehow pair population cohorts that are alike (similar right down to OSA dx and symptoms), yet differ only in that one group chose xpap therapy and the other does not. For a forward looking (prospective) study, it might be done if one population cohort is diagnosed, and chooses thoroughly compliant xpap therapy, and the other does not, but I see some potential ethical issues here.

Perhaps someone with some epi experience can shed some light and describe a potential study design (or some studies that have been done that I can't find key words for.)

That said, when the epidemiology is complete, longevity will be enhanced with compliant, optimized xpap therapy; and, most of us here just know that.

.

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[The Choker]

2Hulls poses an excellent question!

That is your opinion. "Excellent" is in the eye of the beholder.

I saw it as looking for an excuse to forego using CPAP.

[49er]

2Hulls poses an excellent question!

That is your opinion. "Excellent" is in the eye of the beholder.

I saw it as looking for an excuse to forego using CPAP.

And what evidence Choker do you have that the OP was diagnosed with sleep apnea? He/she could have asked the question for various reasons that have nothing to do with this person using a pap machine.

49er

[Cereal Killer]

2Hulls poses an excellent question!

That is your opinion. "Excellent" is in the eye of the beholder.

I saw it as looking for an excuse to forego using CPAP.

I also don't see the value of the question. My apnea is so bad, if I can't use CPAP, I want to die quickly.

But anyway, I found this study,

Date:
May 15, 2011
Source:
American Thoracic Society
Summary:
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) effectively decreases the risk of cardiovascular death in elderly patients who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a new study.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 122459.htm