Risk of severe COVID-19 in non-adherent OSA patients

Abstract

<b>Introduction and background:</b> Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are at an increased risk of severe course of COVID-19. Vaccination remains to be the most effective prevention of complicated course of the infection. The best contemporary conservative treatment of OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. The effects of CPAP therapy&nbsp;on the outcomes of COVID-19&nbsp;are not sufficiently explored. <b>Aims and objectives:</b> To compare outcomes of severe COVID-19 infection between OSA patients adhering to CPAP therapy and those who rejected CPAP and surgical therapy. Additionally, we aim to investigate SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status between the groups. <b>Methods:</b> OSA patients were divided into two groups: group A (N = 167) were individuals with sufficient CPAP adherence (more than 4 hours per night on average) over the last 10 years. Group B (N = 106) were individuals with OSA who did not use the CPAP therapy at all and had no indications to surgical therapy. <b>Results:</b> Three patients in group B died, and one had a severe course of COVID-19. None of the patients in group A died or experienced a severe course of COVID-19. Group A had a significantly higher proportion of males (77.8% compared to 66% in group B) and all parameters of OSA severity. The vaccination status was similar among both groups, with a complete triple dose vaccination rate of 69.5% and 67.9% in groups A and B, respectively. <b>Conclusions:</b> The results show that the patients with OSA adherent to CPAP therapy were less likely to experience a severe course of COVID-19 or death than the OSA patients non-compliant with therapy, despite the former group having more severe OSA. No significant difference in vaccination status was observed between the study groups.