Treatment of treatment-emergent central sleep apnea (TE-CSA) is the most common indication for adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV), but evidence regarding the impact of TE-CSA treatment on quality of life is limited.
On May 13, a paper was published by Michael Arzt from Regensburg University Hospital in the journal Ann Am Thorac Soc titled “Adaptive Servo-ventilation for Treatment-emergent Central Sleep Apnea: The READ-ASV Registry.”
This study analyzed adults with TE-CSA who were newly treated with ASV, all of whom had ASV prescriptions. Among 452 patients, 81% had cardiovascular disease (CVD). Researchers assessed patients’ quality of life (FOSQ questionnaire) and daytime sleepiness (ESS scale) at baseline and at a 12-month follow-up. The results showed that before treatment, patients with CVD had better FOSQ and ESS scores than those without CVD. After receiving ASV treatment, both groups of patients showed a significant increase in FOSQ scores and a significant decrease in ESS scores, with similar improvements.
This indicates that most patients with TE-CSA who have ASV treatment prescriptions also have CVD. Although patients with CVD had milder symptoms, ASV positively impacts the quality of life and daytime sleepiness in both CVD and non- CVD patients with TE-CSA.