Abstract
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the primary treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with fixed pressure CPAP (FP-CPAP) and auto-titrating CPAP (Auto-CPAP) being the two modes. We examined the impact of CPAP on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients with OSA and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). A meta-analysis of 10 randomized control trials (233 CPAP users, 242 controls) was conducted. LVEF was the primary outcome. CPAP significantly increased LVEF (mean difference: 3.72, 95% CI 2.21-5.23). FP-CPAP improved LVEF (4.84, 95% CI 3.23-6.45), while Auto-CPAP showed no significant effect. The cardiovascular benefits of CPAP in patients with OSA and HFrEF may vary by mode, suggesting a potential mode-specific effect between FP-CPAP and Auto-CPAP that warrants further investigation.