Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & AtmungFeb 7, 2015

CPAP's effects on artery stiffness in severely obese people with sleep apnea

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 6, 2026

Abstract

Significant improvements in arterial stiffness measures were observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Augmentation index (Aix) and augmentation pressure (AP) showed significant improvements (P < 0.001) in OSA patients on CPAP compared to those without OSA.
The subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) also improved in OSA patients on CPAP, with a significance level of P = 0.021.
Epworth sleepiness scores and blood pressure measurements, including systolic (P < 0.001) and mean arterial pressures (P = 0.002), improved with CPAP treatment.
Despite these improvements, patients with OSA on CPAP still exhibited higher levels of arterial stiffness (Aix) and AP compared to non-OSA patients.
The findings indicate that CPAP treatment may not sufficiently reduce arterial stiffness to levels seen in patients without OSA.

Simplified

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) may independently increase cardiovascular risk in obesity. Although there is evidence that arterial stiffness is altered in OSA, knowledge of these effects with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in severe obesity (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m(2)) is limited. This study aimed to explore how arterial stiffness, as measured by the augmentation index (Aix), changed in severely obese patients with OSA who were treated with CPAP and in patients without OSA.

METHODS: Forty-two patients with severe obesity-22 with OSA, 20 without OSA-were recruited at baseline and followed-up after a median of 13.5 months. Pulse wave analysis (PWA) was performed using applanation tonometry at the radial artery to measure augmentation index (Aix), augmentation pressure (AP) and subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR). Cardiovascular parameters and body composition were also measured.

RESULTS: There were significant improvements in Aix, AP (both P < 0.001) and SEVR (P = 0.021) in OSA patients on CPAP compared with subjects without OSA. Epworth scores (P < 0.001), systolic (P < 0.001) and mean arterial pressures (P = 0.002) improved with CPAP. Regression showed that CPAP was significantly associated with change in arterial stiffness from baseline. However, patients with OSA on CPAP continued to have increased arterial stiffness (Aix) (P < 0.001), AP (P = 0.028) and reduced SEVR (P = 0.002) relative to non-OSA patients.

CONCLUSION: Although sleepiness and blood pressure improve with CPAP in severe obesity, CPAP alone is not sufficient to modify PWA measures to levels comparable with non-OSA patients. This supports a need for a multifaceted approach when managing cardiovascular risk in patients with severe obesity and obstructive sleep apnoea receiving CPAP therapy.

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CPAP's effects on artery stiffness in severely obese people with sleep apnea

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