Madison, Wis- Patients that are severely affected by sleep apnea have a greatly increased risk of death from the disease.
But those patients that are faithful and compliant about using constant positive airway pressure, or CPAP devices are much more likely to have success in life, and their risk of death is sharply and meaningfully reduced.
Recent results of an 18 year observational study is revealing that the adjusted hazard rate for all mortality is 2.7 percent greater for people with sleep apnea, compared to people that do not have the disease.
People who are afflicted with sleep apnea that faithfully use their CPAP devices can largely alleviate the conditions that affect them that are related to the disease.
Dr. Terry Young of the University of Wisconsin has been following patients with sleep apnea for nearly 20 years, and he reported on his observations in the August issue of Sleep medical journal.
Dr. Young spoke recently to the media, and he cautioned that his study falls short of proving conclusively that CPAP use totally protects against death.
But the evidence from Dr. Young’s study, along with the mounting evidence from facilities doctors and therapists worldwide, using CPAP devices greatly and convincingly reduces the risks and provides an open airway and positive sleep for sleep apnea patients.