Abstract 15489: Impact of Cpap on Arterial Stiffness in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a major cause of hypertension, which is tightly associated with arterial stiffness, a marker of target organ damage and cardiovascular risk. Although continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is considered an effective treatment for OSA, its impact on arterial stiffness is controversial. Hypothesis: CPAP has a positive effect on arterial stifness in patients with OSA. Methods: We systematically searched databases for randomized clinical trials (RCT) evaluating the changes in arterial stiffness comparing CPAP vs. controls in individuals with OSA. Results: We included 7 RCT with 463 patients, 3 with data on pulse wave velocity (PWV) and 6 with data on augmentation index (Aix). The use of CPAP was associated with a lower post-treatment PWV, and a 0.44 (95%CI: 0.76 - 0.11) reduction difference between pre-and-post treatment standardized mean PWV when compared to controls (p Conclusions: OSA treatment with CPAP, when compared to controls, is associated with a significant improvement in arterial stiffness measured by either pulse wave velocity or augmentation index.