The effect of CPAP treatment on sleep physiology of mini pigs with OSAS / 生物医学工程学杂志

ABSTRACT

To study the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on sleep physiology of mini pigs with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) induced by altitude hypoxia, 12 adult male mini pigs were randomly assigned into 2 groups, named A and B. The mini pigs in group A were treated with altitude hypoxia 6 h per day for 22 days, and then with CPAP 6 h per day for 30 days. For comparison, the mini pigs in group B were treated with altitude hypoxia only. The test of inspiration pressure of pharyngeal portion and the monitoring of sleeping were performed after the treatments of altitude hypoxia and CPAP. The sleeping monitor recorded the movements of chest and abdomen, respiratory airflow, heart rate, and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2). The Apnea /Hypopnea Index (AHI), Apnea Index (AI), Hypopnea Index (HI), average SpO2 were all derived from the data of sleeping monitoring. In group A, the AHI and AI decreased after CPAP treatment; in the same time, SpO2 increased; these changes were significant (P < 0.05). The HI showed no significant change after CPAP treatment. The AHI, AI and HI of group A after CPAP treatment were significantly lower than those of group B after altitude hypoxia treatment only, and the SpO2 of group A was higher than that of group B. The pharyngeal inspiration pressure of group A was significantly decreased after CPAP treatment and was significantly lower than that of group B. All in all, the findings suggested that CPAP treatment could normalize the physiological indices of sleeping.