Am J Resp Crit Care: Effects of weight loss on the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

Weight loss is recommended for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) therapy.
A recent study published in Am J Resp Crit Care, a authoritative journal in respiratory medicine and critical medicine, aims to determine whether weight loss through enhanced lifestyle intervention (ILI) is beneficial in reducing the severity of OSA and can last for 10 years. The
researchers followed 134 of the 264 adults included in the Overweight/Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and OSA Sleep AHEAD study for more than 10 years of sleep map follow-up, who were randomly assigned to ILI for weight loss or diabetes support and education (DSE).
researchers monitored changes in the apnea low breathing index (AHI).
ILI participants lost an average of 10.7 x 0.7 (SE), 7.4 x 0.7, 5.1 x 0.7 and 7.1 years, respectively, in 1, 2, 4 and 10 years 0.8 kg, 1 kg more weight loss in 1 year, 2 years and 4 years than in the DSE group, and 3.5 x 0.8 kg in 10 years.
In 1, 2 and 4 years, ILI's AHI was 9.7, 8.0, 7.9 events per hour (P.0004) and 4.0 fewer events/hour (P-0.109) than DSE' in 10 years.
changes in AHI over time were associated with weight loss, baseline AHI, follow-up year (P.lt;0.0001), and interventions not related to weight change (P-0.01).
ILI (34.4%) is more common than DSE (22.2%) for OSA relief over a 10-year period.
, OSA and type 2 diabetes participants who received ILI weight loss reduced OSA severity over a 10-year treatment.
OSA severity did not vary over a 10-year time for the 7ILI and DSE groups.
the improvement in OSA severity over a 10-year age using ILI was associated with changes in weight, baseline AHI, and interventions not related to weight changes.
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