Obstructive sleep apnea: the effect of bariatric surgery after 12Â months. A prospective multicenter trial

- Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea.
- The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea decreased from 71% to 44% 12 months after bariatric surgery.
- Especially the number of patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea was reduced.
- Approximately 20% of patients still have persistent moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea 12 months after surgery.

BackgroundObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent sleep disorder, particularly in bariatric patients. It is known to be tightly linked with metabolic abnormalities and cardiovascular morbidity. Obesity is the most noteworthy individual risk factor for OSA. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) on OSA one year after surgery.MethodsIn this prospective multicenter study standard overnight cardiorespiratory recording was conducted 12 months after bariatric surgery in 132 patients who had OSA in the baseline recording prior to the operation. The main outcome measures were changes in the prevalence of OSA and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). In addition, the changes in anthropometric and demographic measurements including weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist and neck circumference were evaluated. A sleep symptom questionnaire was administered at baseline and at 12 months.ResultsThe prevalence of OSA decreased from 71% at baseline to 44% at 12 months after surgery (p < 0.001). OSA was cured in 45% and cured or improved in 78% of the patients, but moderate or severe OSA still persisted in 20% of the patients after the operation. De novo OSA occurred in eight percent of the patients, and total AHI decreased from 27.8 events/h to 9.9 events/h (p < 0.001).ConclusionsLRYGB is effective in treating OSA. However, the findings demonstrate that a postoperative cardiorespiratory recording is needed in order to identify the patients with persistent moderate to severe OSA after the operation.Clinical trial registrationClinalTrials.gov; No.: NCT01080404; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.