The effect of CPAP on HRQOL as measured by the Quality of Well-Being Self Administered Questionaire (QWB-SA)

Abstract

Background: To examine the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as measured by the Quality of Well Being Self-Administered questionnaire (QWB-SA). Methods: Participants from The Apnea Positive Pressure Long-term Efficacy Study (APPLES); a 6-month multicenter randomized, double-blinded intention to treat study, were included in this analysis. The participants with an apnea-hypopnea index >10 events/hour initially randomized to CPAP or Sham group were asked to complete QWB-SA at baseline, 2, 4, and 6-month visits. Results: There were no group differences among either the CPAP or Sham groups. "Mean age was 52±12 [SD] years, AHI 40±25 events/hr, BMI 32±7.1 kg/m2, and Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS) 10±4 of 24 points." QWB-SA scores were available at baseline, and 2, 4 & 6 months after treatment in CPAP (n 558) and Sham CPAP (n 547) groups. There were no significant differences in QWB scores among mild, moderate or severe OSA participants at baseline. Modest improvement in QWB scores was noted at 2, 4 and 6- months among both Sham and CPAP groups (P <0.05). However, no differences were observed between Sham CPAP and CPAP at any time point. Comparison of the QWB-SA data from the current study with published data in populations with chronic illnesses demonstrated that the impact of OSA is no different than the effect of AIDS and arthritis. Conclusion: Although the QoL measured by the QWB-SA was impaired in OSA it did not have direct proportionality to OSA severity.