APAP therapy does not improve impaired sleep quality and sympatho-vagal balance: a randomized trial in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and systolic heart failure.

Treatment of OSA in patients with systolic HF improves respiratory indices but does not have a favorable effect on sleep quality. While OSA per se was associated with an increase in sympathetic drive, APAP treatment was not associated with a reduction in sympathetic drive. After 6 months of treatment, there was even a trend towards additional increases in sympathetic drive in the APAP group.