Age matters when improving symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea treated with continuous positive airway pressure

Amitoj Singh; Sanket Meghpara; Rijesh Niraula; Lynn Keenan; Lourdes M DelRosso

doi:10.1097/YIC.0000000000000579

Age matters when improving symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea treated with continuous positive airway pressure

Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2025 Jan 8. doi: 10.1097/YIC.0000000000000579. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Amitoj Singh¹, Sanket Meghpara², Rijesh Niraula^{1

2}, Lynn Keenan², Lourdes M DelRosso²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry.
² Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco - Fresno, Fresno, California, USA.

PMID: 39786895
DOI: 10.1097/YIC.0000000000000579

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder linked to significant daytime sleepiness and mood disturbances. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the standard treatment for OSA, but its effects on mental health outcomes, are not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of CPAP on daytime sleepiness, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms while assessing how improvements vary with age. A total of 98 participants diagnosed with OSA were included in this study. Pretreatment and posttreatment scores for daytime sleepiness [Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)], depression [Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)], and anxiety [Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)] were collected. Improvements were calculated as the difference between pretreatment and posttreatment scores. Age, sex, ethnicity, apnea-hypopnea index, and CPAP compliance, were analyzed. Significant improvements were observed across all age groups after CPAP treatment: ESS scores improved by a mean of 5.6 points (P < 0.001), PHQ scores improved by 6.3 points (P < 0.001), and GAD scores improved by 1.1 points (P = 0.002). CPAP therapy effectively reduced daytime sleepiness, depression, and anxiety in patients with OSA, with significant age-related differences in outcomes. Younger individuals benefited most from treatment.