Patients with apnea that do not follow the treatment may suffer hypertension or cardiovascular accidents.

-two studies have shown that the treatment through CPAP sleep apnea (continuous positive airway pressure) protects developing hypertension or suffering from cardiovascular

– to make effective the treatment is necessary to use CPAP for 4 hours a day

-patients who do not meet the media are exposed to hypertension and cardiovascular accidents of the same way as patients not undergoing treatment with CPAP

Spain, July of 2012- the last May were published in the prestigious scientific journal JAMA, whose impact factor is 30, two studies by experts of the dream Area members of SEPAR and cyber for respiratory disease (CIBERES) – belonging to the Institute of health Carlos III -Dr. José M. Marín and Dr. Ferran Barbe. The results of these studies suggest treatment with CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure device) to reduce the incidence of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events in patients who suffer from moderate or severe apnea.

Association between treated and untreated obstructive sleep apnea and risk of hypertension ” is an observational study, coordinated by Dr. José M. Marín, Member of SEPAR and the CIBERES, and published in the may issue of the prestigious journal JAMA. It shows the results emerged after 15 years of observation of different groups of patients (including patients with apnea and without it). The main conclusion drawn is that people who suffer from sleep apnea and do not follow treatment have a clear risk of developing systemic arterial hypertension; This increased risk disappears if the patient is CPAP therapy. Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on the incidence of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Events in patients with obstructive sleep apnea nonsleepy ” is a study coordinated by Dr. Ferran Barbe and also published in the may issue of the scientific journal JAM XML. This randomized study evaluates the incidence of hypertension and cardiovascular accidents in a large group of patients followed for an average of 4 years. The analysis of the results shows a tendency to reduce the risk in patients who continued treatment with CPAP. However, decreasing the risk is clear when patients used CPAP more than 4 hours. It’s the first randomized study showing a protective effect of the treatment of the sleep apnea on the risk of cardiovascular complications. To obtain improvements in the symptoms produced by the sleep apnea, improve the quality of life and reduce the risk of hypertension or cardiovascular accidents it is essential that patients who use treatments CPAP use them properly. Patients who have one bond less than 4 hours per night to CPAP therapy are not protected and future cardiovascular complexities of getting high blood pressure ”, assures Dr. Barbe, Member of SEPAR and the CIBERES.

Different studies have evaluated the effect that treatment with CPAP in patients with apnea. Both results show a significant reduction in blood pressure, especially in patients with severe apnea. There is a significant increase in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases among patients with apnea without a full treatment, compared with treaties efficiently. Obstructive sleep apnea is a disease caused by the collapse of the upper airway during sleep, resulting in temporary suffocation.

these events lead to the cerebral excitement, intermittent hypoxemia, poor quality of life and metabolic disorders. Numerous studies have shown the direct relationship between apnea and its consequences with hypertension. However, the use of continuous pressure (CPAP) treatment helps to correct the blockage during sleep, improving the quality of life of patients and daytime sleepiness. Another of the effects produced by the use of this type of treatment is the reduction of blood pressure, which decreases the risk of hypertension or cardiovascular accidents. In the last ten years, the SEPAR Sleep Apnea research group has become an international reference of the specialty quality and thoroughness of their work. According to data from Global Data clinical trials registry, SEPAR is the institution that leads and coordinates worldwide, the largest number of clinical studies on this pathology; placing result Spain as the second country in number of essays on sleep apnea, only surpassed by United States. At European level, Spain is clearly leader ahead of France and Germany, because in the last decade he has made nearly 50% of the total number of studies carried out.

About SEPAR

The main objective of the pulmonologists and Thoracic Surgeons, as members of the Spanish society of Pneumology and thoracic surgery (SEPAR) is to work together to make it a modern and efficient, scientific society adapted to the current context in which we are moving, and that everyone can feel proud. This joint work allows you to develop the professional, scientific, educational, economic, challenges internationally and internal cohesion that we are facing at the present time with guarantees of success. So SEPAR today: a great team of over 3,500 people committed to the development of multiple projects of scientific research, committed socially and with strength and enthusiasm to lead the progress of society on respiratory diseases.

On the CIBERES

The center of biomedical research in network for respiratory disease (CIBERES) is currently a consortium formed in early 2007 by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, dependent of the ministries of economy and competitiveness and of health, social services and equality. Its purpose is to combat respiratory diseases through the promotion of research excellence and their safe and rapid translation into clinical practice. Your network structure, brings together about 400 researchers with multidisciplinary profile working jointly on 172 projects fall into nine corporate programs of research including the highlight of sleep Apneas.