Effects of positive airway pressure therapy on quality of life in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) significantly impairs the quality of life of affected individuals. This study aimed to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with mild, moderate, and severe OSAS, and to evaluate differences in HRQoL following a minimum of three months of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

METHOD: Subjective daytime sleepiness and HRQoL were assessed using standardized questionnaires, including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES), and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Assessments were conducted at the initial visit following an OSAS diagnosis, confirmed through clinical and polysomnographic evaluation. After at least three months of CPAP therapy, the same HRQoL questionnaires were re-administered. The percentage change difference (PCD) for each questionnaire was calculated by comparing baseline scores with those obtained after at least three months of CPAP therapy.

RESULTS

A total of 87 patients with OSAS were included in the study. Twenty-seven were female (31%) and 60 were male (69%). Comparison of scale scores before and after CPAP therapy revealed statistically significant reductions across the ESS, BDI, AES, MADRS, and FSS questionnaires (p<0.001). A weak positive correlation was found between the ESS PCD and body mass index, while a moderate negative correlation was observed between the AES PCD and duration of CPAP therapy (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Significant improvements in HRQoL were observed following CPAP therapy, regardless of disease severity, gender, presence of comorbid conditions, and smoking status. With the exception of AES scores, these improvements were also independent of the duration of CPAP therapy. Among the HRQoL scales, only AES scores showed a statistically significant reduction after more than six months of CPAP therapy.