Association of aldosterone excess and apnea-hypopnea index in patients with resistant hypertension

Standardized List Evaluating Apnea (SLEAP): A Comprehensive Survey to Define the Quality of Life in OSA

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective cohort study.

SETTINGS

Tertiary referral center.

METHODS

We developed a 15-item English questionnaire that was administered to 176 adults with OSA and 22 adult controls without symptoms of OSA in a tertiary sleep surgery clinic between June 2021 and December 2021. The internal consistency and test-retest reliability were measured using the Cronbach's α and the intraclass correlation coefficient, respectively. The 2-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum (Mann-Whitney) test was applied to compare the 2 groups. Convergent validity of the test scores of the questionnaire was compared to previously validated outcome measures and objective sleep study outcomes using the Spearman correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

Of the 198 respondents (176 cases and 22 controls); 71% were men and 29% were women. The internal consistency was excellent with the α of .92 (lower 95% confidence limit of 0.90). All the test-retest correlations were positive, significant, and strong ranging from 0.50 to 0.90. The differences between cases and controls were statistically significant for all the items and for the total score. The total score of the questionnaire with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and objective OSA measures was moderate to strong.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The new tool provides a validated PROM to evaluate the QoL among OSA patients specifically, with excellent internal consistency, reasonable test-retest reliability, discriminant validity, and construct validity.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4.

The Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Patients With Primary Aldosteronism

CONTEXT

Investigating the co-occurrence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and primary aldosteronism (PA) is crucial for understanding their interrelation.

OBJECTIVE

This work aimed to evaluate the prevalence of OSA in individuals diagnosed with PA and to assess the prevalence of PA within the OSA population, with a specific focus on hypertensive individuals.

METHODS

An exhaustive search was performed across PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science up to September 2023, without restrictions on language or publication date. Studies were selected based on their focus on the prevalence of OSA in PA patients and vice versa, specifically in hypertensive individuals. Data were extracted using standard guidelines, focusing on patient characteristics, prevalence rates, and other relevant clinical parameters.

RESULTS

Proportional meta-analysis using a random-effects model revealed a 59.8% prevalence of OSA in hypertensive PA patients, with 45.4% exhibiting moderate-to-severe OSA. Meta-regression showed no significant effect of age, sex, body mass index, antihypertensive medication, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, or serum potassium on OSA prevalence. However, a significant positive association was found with the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (P < .001). Subgroup analysis also revealed that a hyperfiltration rate (GFR ≥ 100 mL/min per 1.73 m2) may be associated with a higher prevalence of OSA (71%, P value for interaction < .01). Among hypertensive OSA patients, 11.2% had PA.

CONCLUSION

A substantial prevalence of OSA in individuals with PA was identified, demonstrating a complex interplay between these conditions in hypertensive patients. Notably, the prevalence of OSA was significantly associated with kidney hyperfiltration.

Resistant hypertension: diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment a clinical consensus statement from the Thai hypertension society

Resistant hypertension (RH) includes hypertensive patients with uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) while receiving ≥3 BP-lowering medications or with controlled BP while receiving ≥4 BP-lowering medications. The exact prevalence of RH is challenging to quantify. However, a reasonable estimate of true RH is around 5% of the hypertensive population. Patients with RH have higher cardiovascular risk as compared with hypertensive patients in general. Standardized office BP measurement, confirmation of medical adherence, search for drug- or substance-induced BP elevation, and ambulatory or home BP monitoring are mandatory to exclude pseudoresistance. Appropriate further investigations, guided by clinical data, should be pursued to exclude possible secondary causes of hypertension. The management of RH includes the intensification of lifestyle interventions and the modification of antihypertensive drug regimens. The essential aspects of lifestyle modification include sodium restriction, body weight control, regular exercise, and healthy sleep. Step-by-step adjustment of the BP-lowering drugs based on the available evidence is proposed. The suitable choice of diuretics according to patients' renal function is presented. Sacubitril/valsartan can be carefully substituted for the prior renin-angiotensin system blockers, especially in those with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. If BP remains uncontrolled, device therapy such as renal nerve denervation should be considered. Since device-based treatment is an invasive and costly procedure, it should be used only after careful and appropriate case selection. In real-world practice, the management of RH should be individualized depending on each patient's characteristics.

Primary aldosteronism and obstructive sleep apnea: A meta-analysis of prevalence and metabolic characteristics

BACKGROUND

Primary aldosteronism (PA) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are both causes for resistant hypertension and contribute to adverse cardiovascular outcome. However, the association of these two disorders remains to be investigated. We conducted this meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence and metabolic characteristics of the coexistence of PA and OSA.

METHODS

The databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Reviews were searched for studies investigating the prevalence or clinical characteristics of PA and OSA until Jan 2023. Single proportions of PA and OSA were meta-analyzed for pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated for the comparison of the prevalence. Mean differences (MDs) and 95% CIs were calculated for comparisons of the characteristics between patients with both OSA and PA and control groups.

RESULTS

A total of 16 studies were included. The pooled prevalence of PA was 27% (95% CI = 24-29%) in all patients with OSA (n = 3498). The prevalence of PA in patients with OSA was significantly higher than that in the patients without OSA (OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.30, 3.16, p = 0.002). The pooled prevalence (95% CI) of OSA was 46% (39-54%) in patients with PA (n = 2335). Compared with the hypertensive patients without PA, the prevalence of OSA in the patients with PA was significantly higher (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.37, 2.95, p < 0.001). Compared with the patients of control groups, the patients with both PA and OSA had higher blood pressure and body mass index (BMI).

CONCLUSION

Screening for the coexistence of PA and OSA was warranted.

Influence and implications of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in obstructive sleep apnea: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

Obstructive sleep apnea is a chronic, sleep-related breathing disorder, which is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system regulates salt and water homeostasis, blood pressure, and cardiovascular remodelling. Elevated aldosterone levels are associated with excess morbidity and mortality. We aimed to analyse the influence and implications of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system derangement in individuals with and without obstructive sleep apnea. We pooled data from 20 relevant studies involving 2828 participants (1554 with obstructive sleep apnea, 1274 without obstructive sleep apnea). The study outcomes were the levels of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system hormones, blood pressure and heart rate. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea had higher levels of plasma renin activity (pooled wmd+ 0.25 [95% confidence interval 0.04-0.46], p = 0.0219), plasma aldosterone (pooled wmd+ 30.79 [95% confidence interval 1.05-60.53], p = 0.0424), angiotensin II (pooled wmd+ 5.19 [95% confidence interval 3.11-7.27], p < 0.001), systolic (pooled wmd+ 5.87 [95% confidence interval 1.42-10.32], p = 0.0098) and diastolic (pooled wmd+ 3.40 [95% confidence interval 0.86-5.94], p = 0.0086) blood pressure, and heart rate (pooled wmd+ 3.83 [95% confidence interval 1.57-6.01], p = 0.0009) compared with those without obstructive sleep apnea. The elevation remained significant (except for renin levels) when studies involving patients with resistant hypertension were removed. Sub-group analysis demonstrated that levels of angiotensin II were significantly higher only among the Asian population with obstructive sleep apnea compared with those without obstructive sleep apnea. Body mass index accounted for less than 10% of the between-study variance in elevation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system parameters. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea have higher levels of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system hormones, blood pressure and heart rate compared with those without obstructive sleep apnea, which remains significant even among patients without resistant hypertension.

Association of objective and subjective parameters of obstructive sleep apnea with plasma aldosterone concentration in 2,066 hypertensive and 25,368 general population

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity has been suggested in aldosterone elevation in resistant hypertension, whereas it is undetermined in the rest population. We explored the association of OSA parameters with plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) in participants with and without hypertension.

METHODS

We enrolled clinically hypertensive patients with polysomnography and PAC data under no interfering agents, compared (log) PAC, and assessed the linearity of log PAC by tertiles (T1/2/3) of sleep parameters and their association using linear regression by gender and age. We enrolled participants with and without hypertension who had No-SAS scale and PAC data from the community and duplicated the observations from clinical setting considering age, gender, and presence of hypertension.

RESULTS

Of the 2,066 clinical patients with hypertension (1,546 with OSA), men participants (n=1,412), log apnea-hypopnea index (p=0.043), apnea index (AI, p=0.010), and lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO₂, p=0.013) showed significant linearity with log PAC. Log AI (B=0.04, 95%CI: 0.01,0.07, p=0.022) and log LSaO₂ (B=-0.39, 95%CI: -0.78,-0.01, p=0.044) showed significant positive and negative linear associations with log PAC in regression. In community dwellers, 6,417 participants with untreated hypertension (2,642 with OSA) and 18,951 normotensive participants (3,000 with OSA) were included. Of the men participants with and without hypertension, the OSA group showed significantly higher (log) PAC than did their counterparts, and log No-SAS score showed positive association with log PAC (hypertension: B=0.072, 95%CI: 0.002,0.142, p=0.043; normotension: B=0.103, 95%CI: 0.067,0.139, p<0.001) in linear regression analysis, which were consistent in all age groups.

CONCLUSIONS

OSA parameters were positively associated with PAC in normotensive and hypertensive participants, indicating that OSA may increase circulating aldosterone, especially in men.

Prospective Screening for Primary Aldosteronism in Patients With Suspected Obstructive Sleep Apnea

[Figure: see text].

Molecular determinants of obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized as recurrent episodes of obstruction in the upper airway during the period of sleep. The condition occurs in approximately 11% and 4% of middle-aged men and middle-aged women, respectively. Polysomnography is a diagnostic procedure that involves the constant observation of oxygen saturation and unsaturation during sleep. Usually, positive airway pressure is considered a benchmark treatment for OSA. This review summarizes the recent developments and emerging evidence from molecular biology-based research studies that show that genetic factors have an influence on OSA. The genetic aspects of OSA that have been identified include heritability and other phenotypic co-factors such as anatomical morphology. It also draws attention to the results of a polymorphic-based study that was conducted to determine the causative single nucleotide mutations associated with obesity and adverse cardiovascular risk in OSA. However, the role of such mutations and their linkage to OSA can not yet be established. Nonetheless, a large body of evidence supports a strong association between inflammatory cytokine polymorphism and obesity in the development of OSA. There are also probable intermediate factors with several gene-gene interactions. Therefore, advanced applications and modern techniques should be applied to facilitate new findings and to minimize the risk of developing OSA.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Risk Factor of Insulin Resistance in Nondiabetic Adults

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this research was to assess the relationship between prevalence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insulin resistance among patients with increased risk of OSA without diabetes mellitus.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

our study group involved 102 individuals with suspected OSA, mean age 53.02 ± 12.37 years. Data on medical history, medication usage, sleep habits, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness, were obtained using questionnaires. All patients underwent standardized full night polysomnography. Serum fasting insulin and glucose concentration were analyzed, the homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index was calculated.

RESULTS

polysomnographic study indicated that in the group with OSA mean values of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), duration of SpO₂ < 90% and average desaturation drop were significantly higher compared to the group without OSA, while the minimum SpO2 was significantly lower. The carbohydrate metabolism parameters did not differ within those groups. Significantly higher fasting insulin concentration and HOMA-IR index were found in the group with AHI ≥ 15 compared to the group with AHI < 15 and in the group with AHI ≥ 30 compared to the group with AHI < 30. Higher AHI and ODI were independent risk factors for higher fasting insulin concentration and higher HOMA-IR index. Increased duration of SpO2 < 90% was an independent risk factor for higher fasting glucose concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with moderate to severe OSA without diabetes mellitus had a higher prevalence of insulin resistance.

The Role of Aldosterone in OSA and OSA-Related Hypertension

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is regarded as an independent risk factor for hypertension. The possible mechanism includes oxidative stress, endothelial injury, sympathetic excitement, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activation, etc. Clinical studies have found that there is a high coexistence of OSA and primary aldosteronism in patients with hypertension and that elevated aldosterone levels are independently associated with OSA severity in resistant hypertension. The underlying mechanism is that aldosterone excess can exacerbate OSA through increasing overnight fluid shift and affecting the mass and function of upper airway muscles during the sleep period. Thus, a bidirectional influence between OSA and aldosterone exists and contributes to hypertension in OSA patients, especially resistant hypertension.

Long-Term Effects of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy on Obesity and Cardiovascular Comorbidities in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Resistant Hypertension-An Observational Study

BACKGROUND

We sought to investigate whether long-term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and resistant hypertension (RHTN) could attenuate the cardiovascular disease risk by lowering their body-mass index (BMI).

METHODS

This was a long-term observational study of RHTN patients diagnosed with OSA. Patients were evaluated with polysomnography initially and after a mean follow-up period of four years. The patients were divided into two groups based on their compliance to CPAP therapy.

RESULTS

33 patients (aged 54.67 ± 7.5, 18 men, 54.5%) were included in the study, of which 12 were compliant to CPAP therapy. A significant reduction in BMI at follow-up was noted in patients compliant to CPAP therapy (1.4 ± 3.5 vs. -1.6 ± 2.5, p = 0.006). We also noted a large effect size reduction in abdominal circumference at follow-up in the CPAP group. At follow-up evaluation, the mean heart rate (b/min) was lower in the CPAP group (58.6 ± 9.5 vs. 67.8 ± 7.8), while arrhythmia prevalence increased between initial (28.6%) and follow-up (42.9%) evaluation with an intermediate effect size in non-compliant patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort of OSA patients with RHTN, long-term adherence to CPAP therapy was associated with weight loss and improvement in cardiac rhythm outcomes.

Primary Aldosteronism and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Casual Association or Pathophysiological Link?

The coexistence of aldosterone oversecretion and obstructive sleep apnea is frequently observed, especially in patients with resistant hypertension, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Since aldosterone excess and sleep apnea are both independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, to investigate whether their coexistence might be attributed to common predisposing conditions, such as metabolic disorders, or to an actual pathophysiological interconnection appears of great importance. Fluid overload and metabolic abnormalities relating to aldosterone oversecretion may be implicated in obstructive sleep apnea development. Nocturnal intermittent hypoxia may in turn exacerbate renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system activity, thus leading to hyperaldosteronism. Furthermore, fat tissue excess and adipocyte secretory products might predispose to both sleep apnea and aldosterone oversecretion in subjects with obesity. Consistent with these evidences, obstructive sleep apnea frequently affects patients with primary aldosteronism. Conversely, whether primary aldosteronism is more prevalent in individuals affected by obstructive sleep apnea compared to the general population remains controversial.

Treatment of Resistant and Refractory Hypertension

Resistant hypertension (RHTN) is defined as uncontrolled blood pressure despite the use of ≥3 antihypertensive agents of different classes, including a diuretic, usually thiazide-like, a long-acting calcium channel blocker, and a blocker of the renin- angiotensin system, either an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor or an ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker), at maximal or maximally tolerated doses. Antihypertensive medication nonadherence and the white coat effect, defined as elevated blood pressure when measured in clinic but controlled when measured outside of clinic, must be excluded to make the diagnosis. RHTN is a high-risk phenotype, leading to increased all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease outcomes. Healthy lifestyle habits are associated with reduced cardiovascular risk in patients with RHTN. Aldosterone excess is common in patients with RHTN, and addition of spironolactone or amiloride to the standard 3-drug antihypertensive regimen is effective at getting the blood pressure to goal in most of these patients. Refractory hypertension is defined as uncontrolled blood pressure despite use of ≥5 antihypertensive agents of different classes, including a long-acting thiazide-like diuretic and an MR (mineralocorticoid receptor) antagonist, at maximal or maximally tolerated doses. Fluid retention, mediated largely by aldosterone excess, is the predominant mechanism underlying RHTN, while patients with refractory hypertension typically exhibit increased sympathetic nervous system activity.

Obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, resistant hypertension and cardiovascular disease

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common causes of hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is also a quite common underlying factor in resistant HTN (RHTN). The main etiological factor of OSA is obesity, which is a rapidly growing global epidemic. To control obesity, patients should be encouraged by health care professionals to lose weight and be educated about weight loss strategies such as lifestyle modifications, which include regular exercise, low-calorie diet, low sodium intake, smoking cessation, and decreased alcohol consumption. This review also emphasizes the importance of screening for OSA as the major underlying cause of essential, and RHTN, which can lead to CVD and can cause end-organ damage. It also stresses the importance of using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and its beneficial effects, along with other antihypertensive regimens, in treating HTN, and RHTN. Treatment with CPAP therapy decreases sympathetic activity, high blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and CVD as well as its associated mortality.

Associations between primary aldosteronism and diabetes, poor bone health, and sleep apnea-what do we know so far?

Primary aldosteronism (PA), the most common cause of secondary hypertension, is a well-recognized condition that can lead to cardiovascular and renal complications. PA is frequently left undiagnosed and untreated, leading to aldosterone-specific morbidity and mortality. In this review we highlight the evidence linking PA with other conditions such as (i) diabetes mellitus, (ii) obstructive sleep apnea, and (iii) bone health, along with clinical implications and proposed underlying mechanisms.

Cardiovascular Risks and Organ Damage in Secondary Hypertension

Secondary hypertension is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and exaggerated target organ damage, not only due to the higher and more sustained blood pressure values often observed in these patients but also because certain forms of hypertension can increase cardiovascular risk and organ damage by the neurohormonal and/or molecular pathways activation they exert. Early identification of secondary forms of hypertension can help mitigate organ damage and prevent cardiovascular complications. Signs and symptoms distinction among types of secondary hypertension is essential in order to prevent complications.

The Effects of Eplerenone on the Circadian Blood Pressure Pattern and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Resistant Hypertension-A Randomized, Controlled Trial

The obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly associated with various significant cardiovascular outcomes such as resistant hypertension (RAH). Despite this, as of now the relationship between high night-time blood pressure (BP) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with OSA and RAH is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the addition of eplerenone to a standard antihypertensive therapy on parameters of 24-h ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) as well as on the results of echocardiography and polysomnography in patients with OSA and RAH. The patients were randomly assigned to one of the two study groups: the treatment group, receiving 50 mg/d eplerenone orally for 6 months (n = 51) and the control group, remaining on their standard antihypertensive therapy (n = 51). After that period, a significant reduction in the night-time BP parameters in the treatment group including an increased night blood pressure fall from 4.6 to 8.9% was noted. Additionally, the number of non-dipper patients was reduced by 45.1%. The treatment group also revealed a decrease in left ventricular hypertrophy and in the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) with a positive correlation being observed between these two parameters. This study is the first to report the improvement of the circadian BP profile and the improvement of the left ventricle geometry in patients with OSA and RAH following the addition of selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists to antihypertensive therapy.

Systemic hypertension in obstructive sleep apnea

There is consistent epidemiological evidence that sleep disordered breathing and systemic arterial hypertension are deeply associated, being linked through a bidirectional complex interaction among multiple mechanisms including autonomic nervous system alterations, inflammation, hormonal and hemodynamic components, sleep alterations. However there are several unanswered questions not only from a pathophysiological perspective, but also regarding the effects of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment on arterial blood pressure values. At present, while many studies have supported the possibility to obtain at least a small blood pressure reduction with OSA treatment, in particular in hypertensive patients, large trials have not clearly confirmed a significant anti-hypertensive effect, nor a beneficial effect of this intervention on cardiovascular endpoints including cardiovascular mortality. Aim of the present review article is to address the relationship between OSA and hypertension in the light of the latest evidence in the field. Moreover we will discuss research topics which need to be investigated in the future, in order to better clarify still pending issues with the aim of obtaining an early diagnosis, a more suitable phenotyping including comorbidities, and better strategies to improve patients' compliance and adherence to treatment.

Obesity metabolic and hormonal disorders associated with obstructive sleep apnea and their impact on the risk of cardiovascular events

OBJECTIVE

To analyze metabolic and hormonal disorders resulting from the association between obesity and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome that predispose to cardiovascular diseases and investigate the clinical benefits obtained from treatment approaches for both conditions.

METHODS

A literature review between 1997 and 2017 was conducted in the PubMed search database.

RESULTS

Obesity is the most important risk factor for OSA, and the progressive increase in its prevalence also affects OSA incidence. In addition, OSA may aggravate weight gain and obesity comorbidities. Both conditions lead to an increase in the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. The gold standard treatment for moderate to severe OSA is CPAP, but significant reduction in major cardiovascular events was not observed in clinical trials. Body weight reduction appears effective to improve OSA, as long as it is maintained. Lifestyle modifications and drug therapy seem to be the preferred approach to treat obesity, but in severe obesity and moderate to severe OSA, bariatric surgery is probably the most adequate treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Weight control is essential to decrease the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality potentially linked to both obesity and OSA. CPAP seems to treat only OSA without decreasing these risks. Other treatment strategies are lifestyle modifications and drug therapy, which need further investigation as well as bariatric surgery for severe cases.

Nocturnal Blood Pressure Is Reduced by a Mandibular Advancement Device for Sleep Apnea in Women: Findings From Secondary Analyses of a Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with high blood pressure. The magnitude of blood pressure effects from sleep apnea treatment is unclear. We aimed to determine the effect of mandibular advancement device therapy on ambulatory nighttime and daytime blood pressure in women and men with daytime sleepiness and snoring or mild to moderate sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index, <30).

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this 4-month, double-blind, randomized controlled trial comprising 96 untreated patients, 27 women and 58 men, aged 31 to 70 years, completed the study. The active group received individually made adjustable mandibular advancement devices, and the control group was given individually made sham devices, to be used during sleep. Polysomnographic sleep recordings and ambulatory 24-hour blood pressure measurements were performed at baseline and at follow-up. In women with mandibular advancement devices, the mean nighttime systolic blood pressure was 10.8 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 4.0-17.7 mm Hg; P=0.004) lower than in the women in the sham group, adjusted for baseline blood pressure, age, body mass index, and the apnea-hypopnea index. The mean nighttime adjusted diastolic blood pressure was 6.6 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 2.7-10.4 mm Hg; P=0.002) lower in the mandibular advancement device group. In men, there were no significant differences in blood pressure at night or during the daytime between the intervention groups.

CONCLUSIONS

A mandibular advancement device for obstructive sleep apnea reduces nocturnal blood pressure in women.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00477009.