Study: "CPAP machines do not reduce heart attack, strokes"

[49er]

Link on who financed the study provided by Dreamstalker.

http://www.savetrial.org/partnerships

[Arlene1963]

There is nothing wrong with the gold standard. That's why it is the gold standard. Sink or swim is the problem, not CPAP itself. Misinformation and disinformation about CPAP is the problem, not CPAP itself.

Blaming the victims helps nothing. And studies such as this one based on several misunderstandings of CPAP are part of that victimization and overall problem.

And in my opinion, repeatedly implying that 'maybe something better will come along soon' is part of the problem as well.

Just sayin'.

Hi JNK,

I fully agree that CPAP is the gold standard at the moment.

My feeling is this: if enough people have a problem with a particular therapy that treats a very serious disease like OSA, then it is only logical to hope that one day a treatment that is as good as that gold standard but results more people being able to use it will eventually be developed. This is not dismissing PAP therapy at all ...but medicine is full of innovation and I hope the same will be true of OSA treatment. In 100 years time I sincerely hope that OSA therapy will be radically different to what we have today with 100% resolution in 100% of those with OSA.

On a completely different note:

Earlier this year I was in South Africa, and it occurred to me that so many folks in rural communities in Africa will never have access to PAP therapy because they simply don't have electricity and as for Sleepyhead data ...well, hardly!

Suddenly I felt so blessed to have my first world issues and immediately decided to drop the "woe is me" mentality I had re OSA.

I'd love to see treatment that is available to a greater number of folks and doesn't rely so on all this technology.

This certainly isn't relevant to this study, so please bear with me!

[Pneumophile]

There is nothing special about OSA in this regard, in fact we have the advantage in many ways. For very many patients highly effective therapy is inexpensive and available, and one's data can easily be monitored day-to-day by the patient if they wish. The patient only needs to take responsibility for his/her end of the deal.

Compare with oncology, say: cancer metastases are frequently unresponsive to even the latest and most expensive treatments; those that do respond usually become resistant through some secondary or tertiary mutation. These newly mutated tumors may (or often may not) be responsive to some other expensive therapy, only to become resistant again when additional mutations occur. And so the process goes on until death intervenes - there are few genuine 'cures' in cancer.

Sorry to burst your bubbles some of you guys and gals but things aren't so very bad with the gold standard in OSA treatment. Of course therapies can and will improve but for now much of the effort should go into improved rates of diagnosis in the population at large, as well as improved compliance and optimization of care for those on the blower.

Sadly papers like this contribute very little to this needed effort and indeed in this instance utterly fail to test an important hypothesis about possible erficacy of CPAP in an at-risk population of CV patients having newly diagnosed OSA. Good day.

[ChicagoGranny]

I'm with Granny - must have been funded by a dental appliance company...

49er, I did not say that, and Katy has edited it out of her post. Please edit it out of yours.

I am not as knee-jerk cynical about medical researchers as many here are.

It is a poor study. Why was the study so poor? I don't know.

[chunkyfrog]

I am the guilty party. It was me who suggested a dental appliance company.
Of course one of the big shots may have bought some new technology for the next big thing.
HGNS? Inspire? Maybe something we have never heard of . . .

[ChicagoGranny]

I am the guilty party.

You have every right to be cynical about medical researchers.

[chunkyfrog]

I am now going to my "quiet place".

[avi123]

[quote="ChicagoGranny]

When I visited a friend in the cardiac unit with a heart attack, there was a large sign beside the door entering the unit. The sign listed the symptoms of sleep apnea and asked people to think whether they or any family members or friends had symptoms. It went on to say you can avoid a stay in the cardiac unit by treating your sleep apnea.

And, my friend was told to get a sleep study as soon as he recovered from surgery which placed two stents. He did, test was positive, and he now uses CPAP every night, all night.[/quote]

When I check on it by Googlin:

avoid a stay in the cardiac unit by treating your sleep apnea.

I see only this at Mayo:

Obstructive sleep apnea may increase the risk of recurrent heart attack, and abnormal heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation. Obstructive sleep apnea also increases the risk of stroke. If there's underlying heart disease, these multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) can lead to sudden death from an irregular heartbeat.


But those with Cardiac problems mostly suffer from Central and not Obstructive sleep apneas, especially when they use APAPs instead of CPAPs.

[Julie]

I am the guilty party.

You have every right to be cynical about medical researchers.

And your point would be that e.g. women don't make good researchers?

[palerider]

I am the guilty party.

You have every right to be cynical about medical researchers.

And your point would be that e.g. women don't make good researchers?

Look away, Chunky.

nooooo, it would be that ChunkyFROG has right to be wary of medical researchers because they start out by cutting up FROGS (look at what's pinned on the dissection tray.)

[ChicagoGranny]

And your point would be that e.g. women don't make good researchers?

A little slow again today, Julie?

[Julie]

Aaggh - didn't see that! So sorry CF!

[jnk...]

I am the guilty party.

You have every right to be cynical about medical researchers.

And your point would be that e.g. women don't make good researchers?

Look away, Chunky.

nooooo, it would be that ChunkyFROG has right to be wary of medical researchers because they start out by cutting up FROGS (look at what's pinned on the dissection tray.)

Palerider, you peacemaker you!

Palerider for moderator!!!!!

[Pneumophile]

I am now going to my "quiet place".

and fill it with croaking .....

[Julie]

Just realized I did see 'it' but thought it was vice grips!