0517 Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Are Perceived As Younger After Treatment With Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

Abstract

Introduction: To compare the effects of one month with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment and placebo intervention on the appearance of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a randomized crossover study. Methods: Sleepy patients with severe OSA were included. The patients underwent three polysomnograms (PSG): 1st to confirm OSA and two additional ones using placebo (nasal dilator) and for CPAP titration before starting each treatment period. Patients were randomly included into two treatment groups: 1) placebo use and 2) CPAP use. After one month with the first treatment and 15 days of washout, patients were crossed‐over for the second treatment. Photographs from the patients” faces were obtained in the three experimental moments. The photographs were presented in a random order by the Qualtrics Survey Software, and were evaluated online by 704 observers for quantifying healthy appearance (unhealthy to extremely healthy), attractive (unattractive to extremely attractive) and tired (not tired to extremely tired). Apparent age was also rated. Results: Thirty patients (age = 46 ± 9 years, 21 men) were evaluated. During treatment period, the patients wearing placebo intervention on 98% of the nights and adherence to CPAP was 94%, with a mean of 6.0 ± 1.7 hours of use per day of treatment. After CPAP treatment, compared to baseline and after placebo treatment, improvement in the objective sleep quality, sleepiness, quality of life and depressive symptoms were observed (P<0.05). Observational assessment of the photographs showed that patients were evaluated as being younger after using CPAP (P<0.001). Linear regression analysis identified the number of days with CPAP treatment, total sleep time and percentage of total sleep time with oxyhemoglobin saturation below 90% were predictors of decreasing of rated age after CPAP treatment. Conclusion: Sleepy patients with severe OSA had a younger appearance after one month of CPAP treatment.