Daily exposure to mild intermittent hypoxia reduces BP in men with hypertension and sleep apnea

USA: Mild intermittent hypoxia (MIH) brings out beneficial cardiovascular and autonomic outcomes in males with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and hypertension, states a recent study. The study appears in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 

Intermittent hypoxia, also known as episodic hypoxia, is an intervention in which a person or animal undergoes alternating periods of normoxia and hypoxia. 

Jason H. Mateika, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI, and colleagues conducted the study with the objective to determine the effect of 15 days of MIH and in-home continuous positive airway pressure treatment on blood pressure in participants with OSA and hypertension. 

For this purpose, MIH was administered during wakefulness 5 days/week for 3 weeks. The protocol consisted of twelve 2-minute bouts of hypoxia interspersed with 2 minutes of normoxia. 

Throughout the protocol, end-tidal carbon dioxide was maintained 2 mm Hg above baseline values. Control participants were exposed to a sham protocol (i.e., compressed air). Over the 3-week period, treatment of the participants was done with continuous positive airway pressure. The study was completed by sixteen male participants (experimental n = 10; control n = 6). 

To conclude, MIH elicits beneficial cardiovascular and autonomic outcomes in males with OSA and concurrent hypertension. 

Reference:

Panza GS, Puri S, Lin HS, Badr MS, Mateika JH. Daily Exposure to Mild Intermittent Hypoxia Reduces Blood Pressure in Male Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hypertension. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2022 Apr 15;205(8):949-958. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202108-1808OC. PMID: 35015980.