Effects of Exercise Training and CPAP in Patients With Heart Failure and OSA

Background Exercise and CPAP improve OSA. This study examined the effects of exercise in patients with heart failure (HF) and OSA. Methods Patients with HF and OSA were randomized to the following study groups: control, exercise, CPAP, and exercise + CPAP. Results Sixty-five participants completed the protocol. Comparing baseline vs 3 months, the mean apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) did not change significantly (in events per hour) in the control group, decreased moderately in the exercise group (28 ± 17 to 18 ± 12; P  Conclusions In patients with HF and OSA, our preliminary results showed that exercise alone attenuated OSA and improved quality of life more than CPAP. In the landscape treatment of OSA in patients with HF, this analysis is the only randomized trial showing any treatment (in this case, exercise) that improved all the studied parameters. The results highlight the important therapeutic benefits of exercise, particularly because adherence to CPAP is low.