Impact of standard continous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on arterial hypertension in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS)

INTERVENTION: Prospective randomised interventional clinical trial including 40 patients with an OSAS which requires treatment and with recently diagnosed arterial hypertension. Group A: patients receive CPAP treatment immediately Group B: patients start CPAP treatment 3 months later Routines: 1. 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring 2. Night attended polysomnography with additional PAT on fingertip 3. Night attended polysomnography with CPAP titration (1 APAP plus 1 CPAP night) 4. Home treatment with individual CPAP‐mode 5. After 3 months repetition of night attended polysomnography with additional PAT on fingertip 6. Electrocardiogram (ECG) (12‐lead) 7. Pulmonary function test (spirometry) 8. Ambulatory cardiorespiratory polygraphy 9. 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitoring 10. Checking for inclusion/exclusion criteria 11. Sonography of kidney arteries 12. Vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) in urine Total duration of treatment: 12 weeks Total duration of follow‐up: 12 weeks CONDITION: Obstructive sleep apnoea ; Nervous System Diseases ; Sleep disorders PRIMARY OUTCOME: Arterial blood pressure with and without CPAP‐therapy over the course of 3 months SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Cardiac output (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]); 2. Nocturnal PAT; 3. Quality of sleep; 4. Quality of life (QoL); 5. Day sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS] score); ; Measured before randomisation, first therapy night (day one of the study), and after 12 weeks. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Apnoea Hypopnoea Index (AHI) greater than or equal to 15/h 2. Aged greater than 18 years, either sex 3. Patient's signature on informed consent after receiving oral and written information about the study 4. Levels of hypertension 1 ‐ 3 and isolated sytolic hypertension