Health x Wellness
CPAP Therapy Prolongs Lives: Landmark Study Highlights Life-Saving Benefits for Sleep Apnoea Patients
A groundbreaking study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine has revealed that Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy significantly reduces mortality risks for people with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
Supported by health technology leader Resmed, this global meta-analysis analysed data from over 1 million OSA patients, making it the largest study of its kind.
OSA: A Global Health Challenge
OSA is a chronic sleep-related breathing disorder affecting over 1 billion people worldwide, with more than 80 percent of cases undiagnosed and untreated. The condition disrupts daily functioning and has been linked to severe health complications, including hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Without treatment, OSA remains a major—but modifiable—risk factor for premature death.
Study Findings: CPAP Reduces Risks and Extends Lives
Drawing on data from 30 studies—including 10 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and 20 real-world evidence studies (RWEs)—researchers followed patients over an average period of nearly five years. The findings emphasise CPAP’s life-extending benefits for both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.
The results of the study strongly suggest that CPAP therapy is a life-saving intervention for people with OSA. This is not just about improving sleep, but about supporting heart health and extending life.
Atul Malhotra, M.D., senior author and Research Chief of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine
The research offers compelling evidence of CPAP therapy’s role as a life-saving intervention for OSA patients. Key findings include:
- A 37 percent reduction in all-cause mortality for patients using CPAP compared to those who do not.
- A 55 percent reduction in cardiovascular-related mortality, highlighting CPAP’s benefits for heart health.
- Greater survival benefits with consistent use, showcasing a dose-response relationship.
For people with OSA, using CPAP versus not using CPAP can literally be a matter of life or death. This study provides the most comprehensive evidence yet that CPAP therapy not only improves quality of life but also prolongs lives.
Carlos Nunez, M.D., Resmed’s Chief Medical Officer
A Life-Saving Solution
CPAP therapy is widely regarded as the gold standard for OSA treatment. The non-invasive intervention works overnight, requiring only air—no surgery, drugs, or invasive procedures. This simplicity, combined with its proven effectiveness, reinforces CPAP’s importance in addressing untreated OSA worldwide.
This landmark study underscores the urgency of addressing the global OSA crisis. By highlighting CPAP therapy’s profound benefits, it serves as a rallying cry for patients, healthcare providers, and policymakers to prioritise diagnosis, treatment, and adherence to life-saving solutions.
To learn more about CPAP therapy, visit: www.resmed.com/video-story-gallery
Pictures taken from video – https://www.resmed.com/en-us/sleep-health/patient-stories-snoring/
