Benefits of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea, by disease severity
| Severity of OSA | Impact of treatment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CPAP | OA | MMA | |
| Mild (7) | AHI: Decreases AHI Symptoms: Unclear impact on ESS Unclear impact on QoL Cardiovascular: Unclear effect on BP Unclear reduction in CV events Cerebrovascular: Unclear impact | AHI: Decreases AHI Symptoms: Unclear impact on ESS Unclear impact on QoL Cardiovascular: Unclear impact on BP Unclear impact on CV events Cerebrovascular: Unclear impact | AHI: Unclear impact Symptoms: Unclear impact Cardiovascular: Unclear impact on CV events Cerebrovascular: Unclear impact |
| Moderate to severe (4) | AHI: Decreases AHI Symptoms: Reduces ESS Improves QoL (5), (6) Cardiovascular: Decreases BP Improves responsiveness of atrial fibrillation to treatment Unclear impact on CV events Cerebrovascular: May decrease risk of stroke May improve outcomes after stroke | AHI: Decreases AHI Symptoms: Reduces ESS Unclear impact on QoL Cardiovascular: Decreases BP Unclear impact on CV events Cerebrovascular: Unclear impact | AHI: Decreases AHI Symptoms: Reduces ESS Unclear impact on QoL Cardiovascular: Decreases BP Unclear impact on CV events Cerebrovascular: Unclear impact |
Note: AHI = apnea–hypopnea index, BP = blood pressure, CPAP = continuous positive airway pressure, CV = cardiovascular, ESS = Epworth Sleepiness Scale, MMA = maxillomandibular advancement, OA = oral appliance, OSA = obstructive sleep apnea, QoL = quality of life.