Sleep medicine
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of below-the-knee compression stockings on severity of obstructive sleep apnea.
Overnight fluid shift from the legs to the neck may narrow the upper airway and contribute to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) pathogenesis. We hypothesized that below-the-knee compression stockings will decrease OSA severity in a general OSA population by decreasing daytime leg fluid accumulation and overnight fluid shift and increasing upper-airway size. ⋯ These observations suggest that in, a general OSA population, below-the-knee compression stockings decrease OSA severity modestly via attenuation of overnight fluid shift and consequent upper-airway dilatation.