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Sleep apnea treatment reduces heart problems in patients with prediabetes

sleep apnea treatment reduces heart problems in patients with prediabetes Pamidi RI-MUHC

Dr. Sushmita Pamidi’s new study found that people with prediabetes and obstructive sleep apnea could reduce their daytime resting heart rate and risk of cardiovascular disease by using a CPAP machine at night.

The discovery could potentially help the one billion people worldwide with obstructive sleep apnea, in which the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes is over 60 per cent. Furthermore, the vast majority of patients with obstructive sleep apnea are undiagnosed.

The study’s findings are especially timely, given that people with diabetes or cardiovascular problems are among the most vulnerable to COVID-19.

“Potentially improving heart health by treating undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea in a population that is already at higher risk of cardiovascular disease is important,” … “This study is the first to examine the impact of optimal CPAP treatment on daytime resting heart rate,”

– Sushmita Pamidi

In their earlier research, Dr. Pamidi and Dr. Tasali found that effective treatment of sleep apnea with SPAP improves blood sugar levels in pre-diabetic patients, reducing their risk of diabetes.

Dr. Sushmita is an Associate Member of the Meakins-Christie Laboratories, Associate Director of the RI-MUHC RESP Program, and Director of the Respiratory Epidemiology and Clinical Research Unit at McGill University.

Read about the study:

Pamidi S, Chapotot F, Wroblewski K, Whitmore H, Polonsky T, Tasali E. Optimal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Reduces Daytime Resting Heart Rate in Prediabetes: A Randomized Controlled Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 Oct 1:e016871. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.120.016871. Online ahead of print.

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