Does CPAP therapy extend life expectancy

[jerrydaw]

Has anyone seen a study concerning whether or not using CPAP therapy extends life expectancy?  I realize that all of us using the therapy enjoy a better night's sleep.  But does that translate into an increase of one's life expectancy?  I often wonder if our lungs and air passages having being exposed to a low level of increased air pressure for 8 hours out of every day, is harmful to our health?

[mesenteria]

I haven't seen anything of that nature, but it would be extremely tenuous to infer that those using CPAP devices live longer.  Longer than what, or whom?  Longer than their untreated selves...well that one is almost a no-brainer because it tends to reduce or to retard the onset and impact of heart disease, diabetes, sleep disruption, hypertension, obesity, etc.  

Almost a no-brainer isn't quite the same as a sure thing, though.  CPAP isn't universally adapted to by all who are told to use it.   It's surprising how many apparently successfully treated CPAP users report no improvement in their diurnal fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, disrupted sleep, and so on.  I would think that, under those subjective indices, people would still be under stress, have elevated cortisol, have suppressed immune response, and probably still need medication for blood pressure.

So, although I am not able to cite a reference (someone here probably CAN...), successful PAP therapy will almost certainly extend life expectancy for those who accept the diagnosis, who adapt to, and who conform to, the exigencies of properly prescribed PAP therapy, and who go on to live responsibly with exercise, weight monitoring, proper sleep, who don't abuse substances that alter mood, reality, or inhibitions, and who maintain robust and enduring relationships with at least one other person.

That's as far as I'm willing to go.  I can't say if it'll buy you another six months or six years.

[Dormeo]

I did a little googling, because I realized I'm curious what the answer to this question is. Lo and behold:

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoto...le/2730379

"In this cohort study of 392 patients with obesity and severe obstructive sleep apnea with 11 years of follow-up, we found that prescription of PAP therapy was associated with a 62% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with nonprescription of PAP, independent of major confounders."

[jerrydaw]

Dormeo

Many thanks for your cited study.  Very interesting. 

I think there are a great many people out there suffering from sleep apnea, that have no idea of their condition.  For many years, my wife told me that I had a sleep problem, but I ignored it because I always felt great when i awoke the next morning.  When I finally decided to have a sleep test, i found to my surprise that I was having 56 events per hour.  Practically nonstop. My sleep doctor ( who is Board Certified in sleep medicine), tells me that everyone has sleep apnea to a certain degree.  The only exception, is skinny young women.  It is widely undiagnosed.  That probably means that a large portion of the population is missing out on valuable treatment.

[sleepyp]

My wife threatened to kill me a number of times before CPAP solved my snoring.

[Deborah K.]

My wife threatened to kill me a number of times before CPAP solved my snoring.

Now THAT is funny!  

[mesenteria]

Thanks, Dormeo.  I appreciate your willingness, and skills, in finding this important information.