CPAP May Be Important in Mild Sleep Apnea

Research presented at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society suggests that the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) improves daily function, mood, and excessive daytime sleepiness, even among patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea.

The CATNAP trial (short for CPAP Apnea Treatment North American Program) enrolled 281 patients with an apnea-hypopnea index between five and 30. The patients received CPAP or sham treatment for eight weeks and completed questionnaires used to assess outcomes, including the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) test.

Modest but statistically significant improvements were seen on all outcome measures, suggesting that CPAP may be an important and effective treatment even among those with mild sleep apnea.

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