• Hans-Werner Duchna, Wojciech Myslinski, Manuel Dichmann, Kurt Rasche, Gerhard Schultze-Werninghaus, and Maritta Orth.
• Medizinische Klinik III, Pneumologie, Allergologie, Schlaf- und Beatmungsmedizin, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Kliniken Bergmannsheil, Klinikum der Ruhr-Universität, Bochum. hans-werner.duchna@rub.de
• Med Klin. 2006 Jan 15; 101 (1): 1-8.

Background And Purpose30% of patients with arterial hypertension (AH) are supposed to have a co-prevalent obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Hence, the influence of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy on cardiac structure and function was investigated in medically treated patients with AH and co-prevalent OSAS.Patients And MethodsIn all patients AH was treated for at least 5 years. Matched pairs concerning anthropometric data, medical therapy and duration of AH, and severity of OSAS were investigated: 20 patients with untreated OSAS were compared to 20 patients with CPAP therapy for at least 6 months. Further cardiopulmonary diseases were excluded. Cardiac structure and function were assessed echocardiographically.ResultsPatients under CPAP therapy had significantly better diastolic left ventricular function, a lower left ventricular mass index, and significantly less frequent signs of left ventricular (eccentric) hypertrophy than patients with untreated OSAS. Furthermore, differences were significant concerning right ventricular wall thickness and mean pulmonary artery pressure.ConclusionCPAP therapy positively influences left and right cardial structure and function in addition to antihypertensive medication in patients with AH and co-prevalent OSAS.

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