Sex-related Effects on Treatment Success in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Abstract Purpose: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) has a high prevalence in adults in the US (over 20 million estimated diagnoses) for which the current gold standard treatment for OSA is Positive Airway Pressure (PAP). Current literature suggests a much higher occurrence in men than women and there appear to be sex-related disparities for treatment compliance as well. Current standards for treatment adequacy only require 4 hours/night and 5 days/week. We have developed a more rigorous Treatment Success Index (TSI) that combines key measures of PAP patient compliance and treatment efficacy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a gender difference in TSI and, if so, what factors appear to contribute to these differences. Methods: Retrospective analyses of sleep data from 150 patients were performed (#2018-019) to assess sex-related differences in TSI and determine how several treatment parameters and demographic factors affect the TSI. Results: The findings revealed three main points. First, length of treatment versus TSI was significant for the males (P = 0.0307) but not the females (P = 0.0760). Second, age versus TSI was not significant for either gender (P [greater than] 0.05). Third, BMI versus TSI was significant for females (P = 0.0031) but not males (P = 0.1182). This suggests a longer treatment time in males and a higher baseline BMI in females are significant predictors of treatment success. Conclusions: These data further define sex-related distinctions in the treatment efficacy of OSA and should be considered when physicians consider the management of their patients with OSA. Further studies will focus on the effects these factors might have on clinical outcomes.