Predictors of changes in subjective daytime sleepiness in response to CPAP therapy withdrawal in OSA: A post‐hoc analysis

Subjective sleepiness is the hallmark symptom of untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and leads to an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents and impaired quality of life. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the standard therapy for OSA and improves sleepiness. The aim was to identify factors that might predict recurrence of sleepiness in times off CPAP and to define OSA patient types with a likely effect of CPAP on sleepiness. A post-hoc analysis of six clinical trials, including 132 patients with OSA effectively treated with CPAP prior to study inclusion, who were allocated to 2 weeks of CPAP withdrawal, was conducted to assess predictors of a change in subjective sleepiness. A multivariate regression model was used to assess predictors of a change in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score. In response to CPAP withdrawal, the median apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the ESS score significantly increased compared to baseline on CPAP by 32.6/hr (95% CI, 28.8, 36.4)/hr and 2.5 (95% CI, 1.8,3.2), respectively (p < .001), in the included 132 patients. There was an independent positive association of AHI (Coef. [95% CI] 0.04 [0.01, 0.08]) with an increase in ESS score upon CPAP withdrawal, and an independent negative association of age (coef. [95% CI], -0.10 [-0.18, -0.2]), ESS on CPAP (coef. [95% CI], -0.21 [-0.40, -0.015]) and active smoking status (coef. [95% CI], -1.22 [-2.26, -0.17]). These findings suggest that younger patients with a low residual sleepiness on CPAP and a recurrence of more severe OSA during CPAP withdrawal are at highest risk of suffering from a clinically relevant return of daytime sleepiness in times off CPAP.