Effects of CPAP treatment on anxiety and depression in patients with OSAS

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with a higher prevalence of mood disorders. Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CPAP treatment in patients with OSAS on anxiety and depression. Methods: One hundred of patients receiving CPAP treatment for OSAS that continued regular follow-up were accepted to the study. Epworth sleepiness scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a visual analogue scale of quality of sleep (VAS) were filled by the patients before and after CPAP treatment. Results: The mean age of the patients was 55.8 years old and 64% of them were male. Mean duration of CPAP use was 5.2 +/- 1.8 hours. All scales were significantly decreased after CPAP treatment compared with those before treatment: an average of 4.16 points on the Epworth scale (p <0.001); 1.4 points in the HADS questionnaire on the anxiety subscale (p <0.001); 1.27 points on the HADS questionnaire on the depression subscale (p = 0.013); and 2.37 points on the VAS scale (p <0.001). Non-compliant patients (ratio<4 h) were analyzed separately, and in this subgroup (n=23) HADS: A, HADS: D, and VAS scales did not show any significant change after treatment (p = 0.322, p = 0.884 and p = 0.214 respectively). Conclusions: CPAP treatment significantly improves anxiety and depression scores and visual VAS scale in OSAS patients. In the subgroup of non-compliant patients, no significant improvement was observed on the HADS and VAS scales.