Socioeconomic status impacts blood pressure response to positive airway pressure treatment

Study Objectives: Positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment of obstructive sleep apnea reduces blood pressure (BP). Retrospective data suggest that African Americans (AA), a group at high-risk for hypertensive organ dysfunction, may have a greater BP response to PAP therapy than European Americans (EA). We examined the difference in 24-hour BP response to 3 months of PAP treatment between M and E. Methods: Participants (n = 259, 161 AA and 98 EA) with apnea-hypopnea index >= 5 events/h from 2 prospective cohorts were included. t-Tests and multiple linear regression were used to examine BP outcomes in AA vs EA, adjusting for PAP adherence, socioeconomic status, and baseline characteristics. Results: Participants were middle aged (mean SD, 53.8 +/- 9.3 years), 86% (227) men, apnea-hypopnea index 35.6 +/- 19.2 events/h, and PAP adherence of 3.36 +/- 2.24 h/day. The reductions in 24-hour systolic and diastolic BP (mm Hg) were not different in AA vs EA (systolic = -1.13 +/- 12.1 vs -0.61 +/- 12.8, P = .80 and diastolic = -0.74 +/- 7.9 vs -0.80 +/- 7.4, P = .96), and race was not a predictor of 24-hour systolic or diastolic BP reduction (P = .75 and 0.54). Socioeconomic status and PAP adherence demonstrated a significant interaction; low socioeconomic status was associated with an increase in 24-hour systolic BP (beta = 19.3, P = .03) in the absence of PAP use but a greater reduction in 24-hour systolic BP with higher PAP adherence (beta = -3.96, P = .03). Conclusions: Twenty-four hour BP response to PAP treatment is similar in AA and EA. Adherence to PAP treatment is more effective in improving 24-hour systolic BP in those with low SES.