The Effect of Lifestyle Interventions on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and the Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review

The Effect of Lifestyle Interventions on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and the Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and the metabolic syndrome are frequently found together and obesity may be fundamental to development of both conditions. Modifications to lifestyle, such as diet and exercise, can reduce weight and should therefore be beneficial to their management. The aim of this article was to review the current literature that has investigated the impact of lifestyle interventions on OSA severity and components of the metabolic syndrome in order to help identify which patients could gain the most benefit. Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature for relevant human studies using PubMed, Medline, and EMBASE from 8th February 2004 to 7th February 2014. Results: Our search identified 35 studies. There was a wide range in study designs, often with limited information on the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. The majority of interventions focused on OSA severity and weight loss with fewer studies that assessed measures of glucose intolerance, hypertension, and dyslipidaemia. OSA severity and weight were most consistently improved and patients with more severe OSA improved their apnoea-hypopnoea index to a greater extent.