When we see a continuous positive airway pressure therapy device – used to combat sleep apnea – the words “romantic” and “glamorous” don’t really come to mind. And yet… according to a new study, presented during the SLEEP 2024 conference which is being held in Houston from 1er as of June 5, the machine is proving very beneficial for the married life of people affected by this nocturnal ventilation disorder.
Sleep apnea syndrome: a treatment that boosts life as a couple
“No one is at their best when they don’t sleep,” says Wendy Troxel of research firm Rand Corporation. “At a time when we’re seeing couples experience “sleep divorces” and about 50 percent of marriages end in real divorce, it is imperative to recognize how healthy sleep can contribute to healthy relationships.”
To assess the impact of obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome (OSAS) on households, the scientist’s team brought together 36 couples in which one of the two spouses was affected by the pathology. At the start of the study, patients began to follow their treatment with continuous positive pressure ventilation (CPAP). During the 3 months of the experiment, the data from the device was recorded. The duration and efficiency of sleep were also evaluated. All participants were also asked to indicate their relationship satisfaction and conflicts over this period.
The results show that the more regularly the patient used the CPAP device, the higher their relationship levels were. Spouses also argued less. Improved sleep in OSAHS patients was also associated with higher rates of relationship satisfaction. This positive effect was observed by both the patient and his partner.
A better life as a couple, a motivating factor for CPAP treatment?
The results of this study, published in the May 2024 issue of the journal Sleep, confirm that sleep and sleep disorders are involved in the quality of couples’ relationships. Regarding sleep apnea, compliance with CPAP treatment is linked to more harmonious and healthy bonds.
“Recognizing that sleep and sleep disorders impact the quality of a relationship could be a powerful motivator for people with sleep apnea to adhere to treatment”concludes lead author Wendy Troxel in a press release.
For the researchers who carried out this work, it is important to highlight it among patients affected by sleep apnea. Indeed, individuals suffering from this disease, which is characterized by repeated closures of the pharynx during sleep, face several complications if they are not treated. Firstly, their quality of life is impaired by fatigue, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating and irritability. Disorders that result from a restless night marked by micro-awakenings. The risks of road, domestic and professional accidents are greater.
In the long term, the pathology increases the risk of cardiometabolic diseases: heart rhythm disorders, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, obesity, etc.
