title: Lipid profile after long-term APAP in OSA patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to explore the impact of an 8-year therapy with autoadjusting positive airway pressure (APAP) on fasting lipid level in a sample of Portuguese moderate/severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. Besides contributing to the comprehension of the complex relationship between dyslipidemia and OSA, it provided new data regarding the effectiveness of a long term APAP treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine male patients with moderate to severe OSA were included in the study. APAP was prescribed to all patients. Fifteen patients were under lipid-lowering medication throughout the study, and another 15 patients never used lipid-lowering medication at any time during the study. Fasting morning venous blood samples were collected at three time points (baseline 6 months and 8 years) and lipids were estimated. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 21.0 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 8 years of APAP treatment, patients presented a similar body mass index but a significantly less severe daytime sleepiness. Patients on lipid-lowering medication exhibited a higher reduction in total cholesterol than those naïf from that medication, but the reduction was not statistically significant after adjusting for medication and APAP adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term APAP treatment improves OSA but does not seem to contribute to changes in fasting lipids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biology, Faculdade de Medicina do Porto, Universidade do Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319, Porto, Portugal, srebelo1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rebelo
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.forename: José Agostinho
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids