Persistent sleepiness in CPAP treated obstructive sleep apnea patients: evaluation and treatment.
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is an effective treatment for most patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), improving sleepiness, cognitive function and mood. A number of patients, however, complain about persistent sleepiness after CPAP. In these cases another clinical history should be carried out to confirm the diagnosis of OSAS, to check CPAP compliance and to exclude associated conditions such as poor sleep hygiene, depression, narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia. If necessary, a full polysomnography (PSG) followed by a multiple sleep latency test or even a full PSG with CPAP titration should be performed. Experimental data in animals suggest that long-term intermittent hypoxia related to the apneic events could deteriorate the brain structures that regulate alertness. This impairment, if present in humans, could be another reason for residual sleepiness after CPAP. Modafinil has been shown to reduce subjective sleepiness after CPAP in OSAS patients. Further studies are warranted to clarify the way in which CPAP modifies sleepiness.
Santamaria
Joan
J
Neurology Service, Multidisciplinary Sleep Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. jsantama@clinic.ub.es
Iranzo
Alex
A
Ma Montserrat
Josep
J
de Pablo
Joan
J
D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy