Antihypertensive effects of short-term continuous positive airway pressure therapy on obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome patients of different genders combined with hypertension

Objective To compare the difference in antihypertensive effects of short-term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) between man and women obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS) with hypertension. Methods Total 100 OSAHS inpatients confirmed by polysomnography combined with hypertension in our department were enrolled between November 2012 and May 2013,and were divided into two groups based on gender.All patients received nocturnal CPAP therapy for 7 days(＞6 h/night) on the basis of prior antihypertensive medications treatment,daily blood pressure was measured.The blood pressure value and proportion of patients reaching their blood pressure targets were compared within each group,and the blood pressure lowered by the treatment was compared between the two groups. Results ①post-treatment morning mean blood pressure was significantly lowered at day 7 than pre-treatment value in male patients[(103.4±10.4) mm Hg vs. (113.4±11.7) mm Hg,P＜0.05,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa],whereas similar results were not observed in female patients;lowering scope of mean atrial blood pressure was significantly higher at day 7 in males patients than that in female patients[(10.1±12.5) mm Hg vs. (1.7±6.7) mm Hg,P＜0.05)].②The proportion of patients reaching their post-therapy morning systolic blood pressure and of diastolic blood pressure targets of at day 7 were higher than the pre-treatment in male patients(79.0% vs. 43.2%,P＜0.05 and 79.0% vs. 28.4%,P＜0.05);only the proportion of reaching morning diastolic blood pressure targets of post-treatment is significantly higher than the pre-treatment in female patients(89.5% vs. 57.8%,P＜0.05). Conclusion The effects of short-term CPAP therapy in male CPAP patients with hypertension are superior to those in female patients,and thus gender-specific treatment should be considered in clinical settings.