title: Weight reduction improves nocturnal respiration in obese sleep apnoea patients-A randomized controlled pilot study.
abstract: CONCLUSIONS
  
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Randomized controlled pilot study of the effect of weight reduction on nocturnal respiratory parameters in obese patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty consecutive obese male patients fulfilling OSAS criteria at Karolinska University Hospital were randomized into two groups. Intervention with an 8-week weight reduction programme consisting of a low-calorie diet, together with group meetings, was evaluated compared to expectancy alone for the control group, followed by a crossover. Follow-up at 3 months included anthropometrics and ambulant sleep apnoea recordings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven of twenty men completed the protocol. There were significant differences between the intervention group (n = 6) and the control group (n = 5) in changes of weight (p < 0.01) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI4) (p < 0.05). We also found a significant positive correlation in these 11 males after the crossover between their reduction in weight and their reduction in ODI4 (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study indicates that weight reduction improves nocturnal respiration in obese OSAS patients after 3 months' dietary treatment compared to expectancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address:pia.nerfeldt@karolinska.se.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nerfeldt
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Bengt Y
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uddén
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rössner
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Division of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases, Karolinska Institute at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Friberg