title: Effects of Modafinil and Armodafinil in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with nocturnal hypoxemia, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and sympathetic hyperactivation. Continuous positive airway pressure is the first-line treatment for OSA. However, some patients may have residual EDS. Modafinil and its R-enantiomer, armodafinil, are wakefulness-promoting agents known to be effective in alleviating sleepiness.
  
  
  
  We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the efficacy of modafinil and armodafinil in treating EDS in patients with OSA. Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were searched for articles on OSA published before October 2015.
  
  
  
  We identified 11 RCTs of modafinil involving 723 patients and 5 RCTs of armodafinil involving 1009 patients. A pooled estimate of the mean differences in sleepiness parameters versus placebo were calculated using the random-effects model. Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores improved significantly in the modafinil group (weighted mean difference [WMD], -2.96 [95% confidence interval (CI), -3.73 to -2.19]) and in the armodafinil group (WMD, -2.63; 95% CI, -3.4 to -1.85) compared with those in the placebo group. Sleep latency, as measured on the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test, was significantly prolonged in the modafinil group (WMD, 2.51 [95% CI, 1.5-3.52]) and in the armodafinil group (WMD, 2.71 [95% CI, 0.04-5.37]). Patients tolerated the adverse events with both medications well.
  
  
  
  The findings from our study suggest that both modafinil and armodafinil significantly improved subjective and objective daytime sleepiness. Thus, modafinil and armodafinil may be recommended to patients with OSA, particularly those with EDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Sleep Center, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: kelvintam@h.tmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yi-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Sleep Center, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuang-Wei
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Nai-Fang
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Sleep Center, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chaur-Jong
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Center for Evidence-based Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ka-Wai
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Sleep Center, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Brain and Consciousness Research Center, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yao-Hsien
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077408:Modafinil; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D064690:Wakefulness-Promoting Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D064690:Wakefulness-Promoting Agents; D000077408:Modafinil
keywords: armodafinil; continuous positive airway pressure; meta-analysis; modafinil; obstructive sleep apnea; sleepiness