436 Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment (e.g., CPAP) Differential Effects on Cognitive Performance

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The efficacy of CPAP treatment for cognitive improvement among patients with OSA is inconsistent. Naegele et al. (1995) found that short term memory impairment persisted even after 4 to 6 months of CPAP; O’Donoghue et al. (2012) have reported they did not find improvement in vigilance or memory; Felver-Grant (2007) found that working memory improved but not other cognitive tests. Kanbay et al. (2015) found patients improved on the MMSE scores after 3 months of CPAP treatment. Kim et al. (2018) claimed just 3 weeks of CPAP treatment improved attention, sleep quality, and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). CPAP therapy has little effect on the improvement of cognitive deficits associated with OSA if the patients did not complain of daytime sleepiness (Zhou et al,, 2016). Methods Both untreated OSA patients (N=19) and ApneaLinkTM- screened controls (N=16) were administered a battery of cognitive tests before the patients started using CPAP and these two conditions were tested again after 3 months of CPAP treatment. A Fisher’s Exact Chi-Square test was used to determine if there was an association between conditions (OSA patients vs. Controls) and level of performance on cognitive tests (low vs. high scores) at the baseline and after 3 months of treatment. Results Depression scores, subjective sleep quality scores (global PSQI), EDS scores (Epworth Sleepiness Scale), and mood disturbance (Profile of Mood States) decreased after 3 months of CPAP treatment just for patients. Controls (individuals without moderate or severe OSA) performed better at the second time on phonemic fluency, immediate recall memory test, and 30 minute delayed memory recall test. Conclusion The fact that patients did not do better at time 2 on any of the cognitive tests may indicate a long term effect of hypoxia on the brain. The cognitive deficits may not reverse within the first 3 months of CPAP although self-reported depressive symptoms and perception of sleep quality and positive mood have improved when patients reported they are compliant with the treatment. Support (if any) A grant from the Center for Integrative Research on Cognitive Neural Science, Southern Illinois University Carbondale was received.