Tests breathing machines and oxygen in older Veterans with sleep apnea and COPD
Tests airway pressure with or without oxygen in older Veterans with sleep apnea and COPD.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Neurocognitive and Health Impact of Sleep Apnea in Elderly Veterans With Comorbid COPD
Key facts
- Where
- Detroit, United StatesSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 60 and 89 years old?
Source: NCT02703207, who can take part
Where in United States
- John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MIDetroit, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Trial code
- NCT02703207
- Record updated
- 26 May 2026
- Original description
Cognitive dysfunction in the aging Veteran population is a growing health concern in the Veterans Health System. It is not known whether OSA coexisting with COPD will enhance the risk for cognitive dysfunction. The investigators sought to investigate whether these two highly prevalent diseases, that often co-exist as the 'Overlap Syndrome', combine to enhance cognitive impairment in the elderly Veteran population. Thus, the investigators will study whether elderly patients with Overlap syndrome have increased cognitive deficits compared with OSA or COPD alone. Additionally, treatment of OSA with positive airway pressure (PAP) has been shown to improve neurocognitive function in moderate-to-severe OSA while cognitive decline in COPD may be reversible through treatment with long-term oxygen therapy. The investigators will also study whether treatment with positive airway pressure (PAP) and supplemental oxygen vs PAP alone will improve cognitive function and improve quality of life of elderly Veterans.Read full original descriptionShow less
Impact of Sleep Apnea in Elderly Veterans With Comorbid COPD
Cognitive dysfunction in the aging Veteran population is a growing health concern in the Veterans Health System. It is not known whether OSA coexisting with COPD will enhance the risk for cognitive dysfunction. The investigators sought to investigate whether these two highly prevalent diseases, that often co-exist as the 'Overlap Syndrome', combine to enhance cognitive impairment in the elderly Veteran population. Thus, the investigators will study whether elderly patients with Overlap syndrome have increased cognitive deficits compared with OSA or COPD alone. Additionally, treatment of OSA with positive airway pressure (PAP) has been shown to improve neurocognitive function in moderate-to-severe OSA while cognitive decline in COPD may be reversible through treatment with long-term oxygen therapy. The investigators will also study whether treatment with positive airway pressure (PAP) and supplemental oxygen vs PAP alone will improve cognitive function and improve quality of life of elderly Veterans.
Inclusion: OSA defined by the International classification of Sleep Disorders-322 diagnostic criteria with moderate-to-severe disease, i.e. apnea hypopnea index (AHI) 15* per hour by polysomnography; Moderate-to-severe COPD defined by GOLD 2 and 3 (Global Obstructive Lung Disease) 23 criteria with FEV1/FVC ratio <70% and FEV1 >30% and <80% of predicted based on PFT done within the past 1 year and a past significant history (10 pack-years) of smoking; Age 60 years; Male or female gender.
Exclusion: Recent admission for any acute illness within the prior 4 months; Use of hypnotics, anxiolytics, sedating antidepressants, anticonvulsants, sedating antihistamines, stimulants, or other medications likely to affect alertness or daytime functioning for Aim 3/4; Epworth sleepiness score 18 or a near-miss or prior automobile accident due to sleepiness within the past 12 months; Current use of illicit drugs; Overlap Syndrome with mild OSA plus mild COPD; Disorders of hypoventilation due to known neuromuscular or chest wall diseases**; Patients with significant restrictive lung disease on pulmonary function testing; Current psychiatric illness requiring sedating medications; History of learning disability; Consumption of > 2 alcoholic beverages per day or past history of excessive alcohol use; Patients with unstable heart disease, decompensated heart failure, ejection fraction<45% or uncontrolled arrhythmias; Mild COPD; Mild OSA; Central sleep apnea defined as central apnea index >5 per hour; Already on daytime oxygen or nighttime CPAP, NIPPV, oral appliance; Current smokers; Pregnant women; For Aim 3 and 4 only, existing depression as assessed by the PHQ (Patient Health Questionnaire)-9 (score >10); Inability to sign consent; Patients unable to use either a nasal or face mask (e.g., facial trauma); Patients who have problems with vision or dexterity and hence, cannot use CPAP/NIPPV; Life expectancy is less than 6 months.