Does CPAP Therapy Lower Hypertensive Risks in Pregnancy?

TOPLINE: 
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in pregnant women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was associated with a 35% reduction in the risk for gestational hypertension and a 30% reduction in the risk for preeclampsia. These findings suggest that CPAP treatment may be beneficial in managing hypertensive complications during pregnancy.
METHODOLOGY:
Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of six studies involving 809 pregnant women with OSA to find out whether use of a CPAP machine reduced their risk of developing gestational hypertension and preeclampsia.
Data sources included PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Clinical Trials, searched from inception to November 5, 2023. Studies from the United States, Thailand, Japan, and Serbia were included.
Inclusion criteria were pregnant women with OSA confirmed by polysomnography or home sleep test who were treated with CPAP, and clearly defined experimental and control groups.
Random-effects model meta-analyses were performed, and risk ratios (RRs) were reported, with subgroup analysis and meta-regression based on age and body mass index (BMI).
TAKEAWAY:
CPAP therapy in pregnant women with OSA was associated with a 35% reduction in the risk for gestational hypertension (RR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.47-0.89; P = .008).
CPAP use was linked to a 30% reduction in the risk for preeclampsia (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.50-0.98; P = .04).
Meta-regression analysis showed that patients’ age and BMI were not correlated with the reduction in risk for hypertension and preeclampsia.
The findings suggest that CPAP treatment may reduce the risk for adverse hypertensive outcomes in pregnant women with OSA.
IN PRACTICE:
“Future research should prioritize assessing treatment adherence and exploring the optimal timing and duration of CPAP use,” the study authors wrote.
SOURCE:
The study was led by Yi-Chieh Lee, MD, MSc, of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at New Taipei Municipal Tucheng Hospital in New Taipei City, Taiwan. It was published online on August 13 in JAMA Network Open.
LIMITATIONS:
The number of eligible articles was small. The duration of and adherence to CPAP treatment were not clearly stated in all the studies, which could affect the interpretation of the results.
DISCLOSURES:
The study authors reported no financial disclosures. 
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
 
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