At rest with less risk

People suffering from sleep apnea aren’t just tired -- they also run a higher risk of heart disease. Now researchers have found that long-term use of a breathing device during sleep can dramatically cut this risk.

The therapy, known as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), is prescribed to keep the airway open. The condition, which causes the airway to become blocked during sleep, can make sufferers snore or wake up many times a night.

“We saw striking differences between those that complied with CPAP therapy and those who didn’t,” says lead scientist Walter McNicholas, director of the sleep research group at University College Dublin in Ireland.

McNicholas and colleagues followed 168 sleep apnea patients for an average of 7 1/2 years. All had been prescribed CPAP therapy, but more than a third had stopped using the device.

Scientists found that long-term use of the therapy significantly reduced the rate of cardiac-related deaths -- 14.8% of untreated patients died from cardiovascular disease during the study period, compared with 1.9% of CPAP users. Overall, 31% of untreated patients suffered cardiovascular problems, including death, congestive heart failure, hypertension and stroke, compared with 18% of CPAP users. Both groups had similar ages, body mass and baseline cardiovascular risk.

McNicholas says the treatment probably reduces some of the physiological changes induced by sleep apnea, such as inflammation, which are linked to heart disease.