sleep apnea syndromes

What Is Atrial Fibrillation?

Author/s: 
Rebecca Voelker

Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that can cause stroke, heart failure, heart attack, chronic kidney disease, dementia, and death.

Atrial fibrillation is classified as paroxysmal (intermittent episodes lasting 7 days or less), persistent (lasting more than 7 days), long-standing persistent (lasting more than 1 year), or permanent.1

In the US, atrial fibrillation affects about 10.55 million people and is more common among men than women. Other risk factors include older age, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, high alcohol consumption, sleep apnea, an overactive thyroid gland, and possibly genetic factors.

Nasal vs Oronasal CPAP for OSA Treatment: A Meta-Analysis.

Author/s: 
Andrade, Rafaela G. S., Viana, Fernanda M., Nascimento, Juliana A., Drager, Luciano F., Moffa, Adriano, Brunoni, André R., Genta, Pedro R., Lorenzi-Filho, Geraldo

BACKGROUND:

Nasal CPAP is the "gold standard" treatment for OSA. However, oronasal masks are frequently used in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of all randomized and nonrandomized trials that compared nasal vs oronasal masks on CPAP level, residual apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), and CPAP adherence to treat OSA.

METHODS:

The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies in any language with the following terms: "sleep apnea" and "CPAP" or "sleep apnea" and "oronasal mask" or "OSA" and "oronasal CPAP" or "oronasal mask" and "adherence." Studies on CPAP treatment for OSA were included, based on the following criteria: (1) original article; (2) randomized or nonrandomized trials; and (3) comparison between nasal and oronasal CPAP including pressure level, and/or residual AHI, and/or CPAP adherence.

RESULTS:

We identified five randomized and eight nonrandomized trials (4,563 patients) that reported CPAP level and/or residual AHI and/or CPAP adherence. Overall, the random-effects meta-analysis revealed that as compared with nasal, oronasal masks were associated with a significantly higher CPAP level (Hedges' g, -0.59; 95% CI, -0.82 to -0.37; P < .001) (on average, +1.5 cm H2O), higher residual AHI (Hedges' g, -0.34; 95% CI, -0.52 to -0.17; P < .001) (+2.8 events/h), and a poorer adherence (Hedges' g, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.21-0.79; P = .001) (-48 min/night).

CONCLUSIONS:

Oronasal masks are associated with a higher CPAP level, higher residual AHI, and poorer adherence than nasal masks.

Keywords 
Subscribe to sleep apnea syndromes