True or False poll no. 70
Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)
TRUE or FALSE:
Adult patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea should be treated with continuous positive airway pressure.
FALSE
For patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea (apnea–hypopnea index of 5–14) who are overweight or obese, lifestyle modifications such as diet or exercise are the recommended interventions. For those with mild obstructive sleep apnea who are not overweight or obese, no active treatment is recommended, because treatment has not been found to be cost-effective, and the discomfort of treatment may outweigh the benefits in some patients. However, treatment (e.g., continuous positive airway pressure, oral appliances) may be considered for patients with mild obstructive sleep apnea who are symptomatic.
To address treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in Canada, the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) undertook an Optimal Use project that assessed the clinical- and cost-effectiveness, safety, and patient experiences of interventions for obstructive sleep apnea in adults. Ethical issues, implementation considerations and the potential environmental impact were also assessed. The Health Technology Expert Review Panel (HTERP) developed recommendations for treating obstructive sleep apnea based on the evidence.
Read more about CADTH and its work on obstructive sleep apnea at www.cadth.ca/OSA