Multiple cardiovascular risk factors in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients and an attempt at lifestyle modification using telemedicine-based education

Abstract

Severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a typical 'lifestyle- related disease' characterized by a high incidence of cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, smoking, hypertriglyceridemia, and diabetes mellitus. Patients with OSAS tend to have eating disorders as a result of efforts to overcome the intolerable sleepiness. Treatment of OSAS should therefore aim to improve the lifestyle through encouraging weight reduction, physical activity increase, and tobacco avoidance, in addition to direct therapy such as continuous positive airway pressure for upper airway obstruction. The telemedicine system we developed was considered to be effective for providing home-based education on nutrition and exercise aimed at correcting multiple risk factors in OSAS patients.