Extrait

Background and study aims Obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) is the name given to difficulty in breathing during sleep due to blockage of the airway behind the tongue. It causes profound daytime sleepiness, high blood pressure, an increased risk of heart attack/stroke and possibly memory problems. OSAHS is the third most common respiratory disorder, after asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, affecting 2 - 4% of middle aged people. In older people prevalence is almost 10 times greater, with up to 20% of older people having OSAHS. OSAHS can be treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). A CPAP device delivers compressed air through a mask covering the nose and mouth, which prevents the throat from closing. A recent report concluded that CPAP is an extremely cost effective treatment for OSAHS in middle-aged people. Unfortunately the beneficial effects of CPAP cannot be presumed to be the same in older people because the causes and consequences of the disease change with age. Very little information is available for doctors and healthcare professionals regarding the best way to treat OSAHS in older people. This study will measure the effect of treating OSAHS on sleepiness and other health-related factors, such as risk factors for heart disease and memory function, in patients over 65 years old. Who can participate? Patients aged over 65 with OSAHS What does the study involve? Participants are randomly allocated to be treated with either CPAP or a best supportive care package (consisting of advice, a general medical review and heart disease risk assessment). Both groups are monitored for 12 months, particularly their use of healthcare facilities, to show whether CPAP effectively treats older people with OSAHS and whether it is cost effective. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? The UK population is ageing, thereby increasing the burden of disease. One of the best ways to reduce these costs is to maintain the independence of older people. Treating OSAHS appropriately in older people will benefit both individual patients and reduce the economic burden of disease in the UK. Where is the study run from? Churchill Hospital (UK) When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? February 2009 to May 2012 Who is funding the study? NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme - HTA (UK) Who is the main contact? Magda Laskawiec

Critère d'inclusion

• Sleep apnoea

Liens

• ictrp
• isrctn