SAVE

Sleep Apnea cardioVascular Endpoints

The SAVE study is a collaborative, Phase III, multi‑centre, open-label randomised controlled trial of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) to prevent cardiovascular disease.  The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the hypothesis that in patients with moderate‑severe OSA, CPAP added to standard care will reduce the incidence of major and minor CV events relative to standard care alone, as measured by the composite endpoint cluster of CV death, myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for heart failure and hospitalisation for an acute ischaemic cardiac event or cerebral event.

OSA is a condition in which a person, because of relaxation of throat muscles, stops breathing for several seconds at a time, many times over, during sleep.  Research indicates that it may lead to high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.  One of the current treatments available for severe OSA is the use of CPAP. CPAP involves the use of a small mask placed over the nose or nose and mouth, during sleep where air is gently pushed into the lungs and allows people to continue breathing normally.  CPAP has been shown to effectively reduce snoring, obstructive episodes and daytime sleepiness. Some short-term research studies have shown that CPAP may help to reduce blood pressure.  This CPAP device is approved in Australia and internationally for use in the treatment of sleep apnoea. Participants are eligible for the study if they have at least one of the following risk factors for OSA: a previous heart attack; heart disease requiring bypass graft surgery, angioplasty or stenting; stroke, or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA); or angina.