Somehow years ago, I got on a doctor’s mailing list — Medscape Don’t know if none doctor’s can get it now, but it’s good, even if I can usually understand only the first paragraph or two of each story.
This came across today.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) improves heart failure in patients with coexistent obstructive sleep apnea, according to the results of a small randomized trial published in the March 27 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The investigators suggest that many would benefit from this, because this condition may coexist in up to one-third of patients with stable heart failure. With the advent of less expensive, more readily available screening for obstructive sleep apnea, screening may become routine for patients with heart failure.
The problem with sleep apnea, is that it requires a sleep test to screen for. Sleep tests require at least two people to monitor the patient, plus a ton of equipment. I think mine ran $7000 a few years ago. Needless to say, this is something you don’t do on a whim.
Too bad there isn’t a cheaper way to diagnose and treat sleep apnea.
And never let anyone talk you out of a sleep study if you think you might need one. Going through that has made a huge difference.