Influence of longterm CPAP therapy on CO(2) drive in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

According to recent publications, the values of the hypercapnic ventilatory responses (HCVR) in normocapnic obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients are highly variable, but they are usually within the normal range. In our study, CPAP therapy during 1 month did not seem to influence the HCVR [Verbraec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Respiration physiology 2000-10, Vol.123 (1-2), p.121-130
Main Authors: Verbraecken, J, Willemen, M, De Cock, W, Wittesaele, W, Govaert, K, Van de Heyning, P, De Backer, W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Blood Gas Analysis
Carbon Dioxide - blood
Electroencephalography
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pulmonary Gas Exchange - physiology
Respiration
Respiration, Artificial
Respiratory Function Tests
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - physiopathology
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - therapy
Sleep Stages
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Summary:According to recent publications, the values of the hypercapnic ventilatory responses (HCVR) in normocapnic obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients are highly variable, but they are usually within the normal range. In our study, CPAP therapy during 1 month did not seem to influence the HCVR [Verbraecken, J., De Backer, W., Willemen, M., De Cock, W., Wittesaele, W., Van de Heyning, P., 1995. Respir. Physiol. 101, 279-287]. It is, however, not well studied whether long term (1 year) CPAP therapy can influence HCVR in normocapnic patients. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of 1 year CPAP therapy on CO(2) drive in 20 OSA patients. The slope of HCVR (SHCVR) changed from 2.35+/-0.21 L min(-1) mmHg(-1) (control) to 1.66+/-0.16 L min(-1) mm Hg(-1) (P=0.04), but the mean within subject coefficient of variation in repeated measurements of SHCVR in treated and untreated OSA patients was not statistically different. Pa(O(2)) increased from 72+/-2 mm Hg to 80+/-2 (1 year) mm Hg. We conclude that CPAP therapy improves daytime gas exchange in normocapnic OSA and may possibly decrease CO(2) drive (slope) after a treatment period of 1 year.
ISSN:0034-5687