Grant: Project Grant

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is the most common respiratory disorder of sleep and affects hundreds of millions of people globally. It is characterized by recurrent upper airway collapse leading to asphyxia and low oxygen levels. The recurrent low oxygen levels leads to oxidative stress and inflammation and this in turn can lead to many adverse health complications (e.g., vascular disease, dementia, kidney damage). We believe that oxidative stress/inflammation contribute to OSA-related outcomes, and therefore, blood markers of these processes will help us predict them. We also hypothesize that adhering to CPAP treatment will be beneficial in improving long-term health (i.e., improving brain function, kidney function, and reducing risks of cardiovascular disease). This work will help us predict (and eventually prevent) these complications in sleep apnea patients. Goals: 1. To determine whether oxidative stress/inflammatory biomarkers can help predict long-term health complications in OSA 2. To determine whether CPAP adherence improves outcomes Methods: This proposal will use an ongoing project that is establishing a large group of patients with suspected OSA who receive a sleep study at one of six sleep centres. They have blood, extensive survey, and cognitive performance information collected at baseline. Patients will return for follow up 4-5 years after initial assessment for repeat blood collection, brain function, and detailed survey data. Detailed OSA treatment information (e.g., CPAP adherence from machine downloads) will also be obtained. Baseline and follow-up samples will be processed for inflammatory markers. For the first goal, we will determine whether baseline markers are associated with future adverse outcomes. For the second aim, the impact of CPAP adherence on outcomes will be assessed by comparing those who use and don't use CPAP using complex statistical matching.