One Year Follow-Up Assessment of Impact of Rigorous Diet Regimen and Adequate C-PAP Therapy on Obese Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Retrospective Study

Background/Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of continuous positive airway pressure (C-PAP) therapy combined with a rigorous diet regimen on obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Methods: Sixty obese patients (BMI >= 30) diagnosed with severe OSAS were recruited in order to establish the evaluation of CPAP therapy with different extents of adherence to a rigorous diet regimen. After one year, significant improvements were observed. Results: BMI reduced by 12.32%, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) by 22.04%, oxygen desaturation index (ODI) by 15.87%, total sleep time with oxygen saturation below 90% (TST90%) by 25.2%, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores by 21.74%. Patients were, then, divided into three groups, based on adherence to the restricted diet, as well as to the correct use of the nocturnal C-PAP, showing different reductions in BMI, AHI, ODI, TST90%, and ESS, according to their adherence, based on the sum of % reduction in BMI + AHI into three groups. Conclusions: These findings underscore the effectiveness of combining C-PAP therapy with a strict diet in improving OSAS symptoms and overall health in obese patients. Future studies with larger cohorts and longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm these results and explore the long-term benefits of this integrated approach.