Effect of a Graduated Walking Program on the Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. A Randomized Clinical Trial

Antonio Jurado-García, Guillermo Molina-Recio, Nuria Feu-Collado, Ana Palomares-Muriana, Adela María Gómez-González, Francisca Lourdes Márquez-Pérez and Bernabé Jurado-Gamez
Additional contact information
Antonio Jurado-García: Department of Physiotherapy, San Juan de Dios Hospital Cordoba, 14012 Cordoba, Spain
Guillermo Molina-Recio: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of Cordoba, 14004 Cordoba, Spain
Nuria Feu-Collado: Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Pneumology Department, Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Cordoba, 14004 Cordoba, Spain
Ana Palomares-Muriana: Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Pneumology Department, Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Cordoba, 14004 Cordoba, Spain
Adela María Gómez-González: Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Department, Virgen de la Victoria University Hospital, 29010 Malaga, Spain
Francisca Lourdes Márquez-Pérez: Pneumology Department, University Hospital of Badajoz, 06005 Badajoz, Spain
Bernabé Jurado-Gamez: Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Pneumology Department, Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Cordoba, 14004 Cordoba, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-15

Abstract: Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common disease. The objective of this research was to determine the effectiveness of a graduated walking program in reducing the apnea–hypopnea index number in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial with a two-arm parallel in three tertiary hospitals was carried out with seventy sedentary patients with moderate to severe OSAS. Twenty-nine subjects in each arm were analyzed by protocol. The control group received usual care, while usual care and an exercise program based on progressive walks without direct supervision for 6 months were offered to the intervention group. Results: The apnea–hypopnea index decreased by six points in the intervention group, and improvements in oxygen desaturation index, total cholesterol, and Low-Density Lipoprotein of Cholesterol (LDL-c) were observed. A higher decrease in sleep apnea–hypopnea index (45 ± 20.6 vs. 34 ± 26.3/h; p = 0.002) was found in patients with severe vs. moderate OSAS, as well as in oxygen desaturation index from baseline values (43.3 vs. 34.3/h; p = 0.046). Besides, High-Density Lipoprotein of Cholesterol (HDL-c) values showed a higher increase in the intervention group (45.3 vs. 49.5 mg/dL; p = 0.009) and also, a higher decrease in LDL-c was found in this group (141.2 vs. 127.5 mg/dL; p = 0.038). Conclusion: A home physical exercise program is a useful and viable therapeutic measure for the management of OSAS.

Keywords: sleep apnea; cardiovascular diseases; exercise and pulmonary rehabilitation; physical activity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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