
Comparison Study of the ICON™ CPAP Series With and Without SensAwake™
Obstructive Sleep ApneaConceptually, awareness of pressure occurs only during wakefulness. Thus reducing the pressure during wakefulness may improve therapy comfort and potentially adherence without compromizing therapy efficacy. SensAwake™ is a unique pressure relief technology developed by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare which detects irregularity in the flow signal indicative of the transition from sleep to wake. When the transition from sleep to wake is detected the device promptly reduces the pressure to help facilitate a return to sleep. The purpose of this study is to compare adherence and sleep quality outcomes in patients treated by CPAP with and without SensAwake technology. It is hypothesised that participants with SensAwake on will have improved adherence and sleep quality.

Randomized-controlled Trial (RCT) on CPAP-withdrawal and Microvascular Function in OSA
Obstructive Sleep ApnoeaRandomized controlled trial (therapeutic vs. placebo CPAP) including 46 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) to define the physiological effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy withdrawal on myocardial perfusion and dermal and renal microvascular function during a 2 week period.

Obstructive Sleep Apneas in Elderly:Neuroimaging Changes and Neurocognitive Function Before and...
Sleep ApneaIn the near future more than 20% of the European population will be over 65 years old and the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in this aged population is known to be higher than 50%. OSA is a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction in middle-aged subjects, but the relationship between cognitive impairment and sleep breathing disorders (SBD) in the elderly has scarcely been observed. The aim of this study is to investigate cognitive performance in elderly OSA patients, the corresponding brain morphology changes and biological markers and their reversibility with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment.

Assessment of the Performance of a New Reduced Noise Mask Vent
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA)As continuous positive airway pressure is the treatment of choice for OSA, a mask is vital in ensuring the effectiveness of therapy delivery. The study will evaluate the performance and usability of the new mask vent. This is done by comparing the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of patients, who will apply 2 different washing procedures to the new mask, at the end of the study and their baseline data obtained at the beginning of the study.The study will also assess the breathing comfort as well as obtaining subjective data on the usability of the new mask vent system.

Sleep Apnea Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease Reduction
Obstructive Sleep ApneaModerate to severe sleep apnea (a high number of breathing pauses on a sleep study) is a common health problem that is often associated with loud snoring and sleepiness.The medical term for this problem is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). People with OSA often have an increased risk for developing heart disease or may already have a diagnosis of heart disease. A clinical research study is being conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) to compare the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to conservative medical therapy with participation in one of four groups: Active-PAP Therapy Group (Active-Beh or Active+Beh): Will receive standard medical treatment for sleep apnea with active-PAP. Participants will be randomized to either: Active-Pap with respiratory therapist visits only Active-Pap with respiratory therapist visits and cognitive behavioral therapist visits. Alternative PAP Group (Sham): Will receive lower air delivery level than active-PAP therapy group. Will also have meetings with respiratory therapist. Conservative Medical Therapy Group (CMT)*: Will receive a free supply of nasal strips for the duration of their treatment period (either 6 months or 12 months) and follow healthy sleep hygiene guidelines for how to change sleep habits to minimize incidences of apneas (breathing disturbances during sleep). Frequent follow-up support with research coordinator. A sleep doctor or cardiologist will have indicated that a potential participant is an appropriate candidate to receive PAP or CMT as acceptable approaches to treat his/her sleep apnea. Participants will be recruited between the ages of 45-75 years who have diagnosed heart disease or between 55-75 years for those who have risk factors for developing heart disease. This is a 6-12 month study** to evaluate alternative ways to address the potential for OSA treatment to reduce heart disease and to identify those features that would strengthen a later, large-scale randomized controlled trial. We will test the hypothesis that active treatment for OSA with CPAP reduces CVD morbidity and mortality. *All randomized participants will be given conservative medical therapy (CMT). **For those randomized after December 31, 2012, follow-up assessment will only be 6 months long

Effect of Zopiclone on Compliance With Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Obstructive Sleep...
Obstructive Sleep ApneaThe clinical population targeted will be newly diagnosed patients with polysomnographically diagnosed OSA who are not currently taking hypnotics for concomitantly diagnosed insomnia. Outpatients who are also judged to be capable to follow the study procedures (consent, timelines, visits, questionnaires) and who do not have any concurrent disease that in the view of the investigator will interfere with participation in the trial to completion will be included. Approximately 160 subjects were recruited (80 per treatment arm) in the recent trial of eszopiclone. This size is expected to be able to discern an important difference of 80 minutes per night. In the current clinical population newly prescribed CPAP at Mount Sinai Hospital, the average compliance after 4 weeks of initiation of nCPAP was 4:01 (SD 2:59) hours per night. To be able to discern a difference of at least 1 hour (60 minutes) in usage per night, including entirely non-adherent patients who do not use treatment at all as 'zero hour' users, would require randomization of 264 patients (132 per group). Our hypothesis for this study is that initial titration of CPAP treatment of OSA may be improved by initial prescription of a common hypnotic, zopiclone. To answer this question we intend to recruit 264 consecutive consenting subjects with OSA confirmed by a physician (ABSM or by a respirologist with extensive sleep medicine experience) with supportive polysomnography results who are willing to initiate long-term CPAP treatment.

Life-style Changes in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Sleep ApneaObstructive1 moreThe primary aim is to study whether a tailored behavioural medicine intervention addressing physical activity and eating habits have additional effects to continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) in patients with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) combined with obesity. Direct everyday life consequences (see below) of OSAS are studied, as well as cognitive functions and ventilatory parameters. Long-term benefits will be examined in terms of quality of life and everyday life activity. Another aim is to study mechanisms of treatment effects, if any. The specific goals are: To study changes in OSAS ventilatory parameters following a tailored behavioural medicine intervention addressing physical activity and eating habits (including CPAP) compared to regular CPAP-treatment To study immediate and long-term effects on daytime sleepiness, attention and concentration, everyday life activity, quality of life following a tailored behavioural medicine intervention addressing physical activity and eating habits (including CPAP) compared to regular CPAP-treatment To study associations of changes in metabolic parameters and systemic inflammation and physical activity level and adherence to CPAP-regimen respectively. To identify mediators, moderators, and predictors of treatment effects, if any.

Stimulation Therapy for Apnea Reduction (Www.theSTARtrial.Com)
Obstructive Sleep ApneaThe purpose of this clinical trial is to demonstrate long-term safety and efficacy of the Inspire system. The Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) therapy is intended to treat moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea by improving airway patency through stimulation of the hypoglossal nerve. Study objectives include demonstrating that the Inspire system improves key indices of sleep apnea in a pre-specified percentage of patients.

Foam Mask - Assessment of Bioburden in a New Mask Seal Material
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is characterised by a partial or complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep. The treatment of choice for OSA is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). CPAP acts as a positive airway splint, delivering a fixed positive airway pressure to the upper airway via a tube and mask. Compliance, however, to therapy requires that the mask is suitably comfortable so as not to disturb sleep. A key contributor to comfort is the seal component of the mask system. Current mask seals are mainly silicone elastomers, which though well understood and accepted, are often uncomfortable. It is proposed to replace the solid elastomer with a soft polymer foam. The foam is highly porous, and has open cells at its surface. It is therefore more likely to accumulate biological material with repeated use. The current (silicone) material does not present any problematic bioburden issues. Therefore it is important to investigate whether the foam will present bioburden problems to patients, within specified usage parameters. The aims of this study therefore are: to observe the rate of bacterial accumulation on foam mask seal material (polyether polyurethane,) to determine the replacement interval for a foam mask seal, and assess the comfort and function of a foam mask seal.

Validation of HC250 and HC240 Series.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)This study is designed to determine the effectiveness of two different CPAP devices. One a standard CPAP which has the ability to store comprehensive compliance and efficacy data and the second a auto adjusting CPAP which uses the energy spectrum analysis of flow signals to automatically adjust CPAP pressure and improve sleep variables.