Understanding the causes of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in co-morbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea (COMISA) and assessing its impact on treatment management

Abstract

Co-morbid insomnia and obstructive sleep apnoea (COMISA) is common, with up to 40% of individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) or insomnia meeting diagnostic criteria for both conditions. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) reduces OSA severity in COMISA patients, suggesting that these conditions may have some underlying shared cause(s). This project will be the first to identify the physiological mechanism(s) causing OSA in COMISA patients and how either treatment of insomnia (CBT-I) or OSA (CPAP) may influence these mechanism(s). This study will provide the critical information required to better target treatment interventions for these highly vulnerable patients. (AU)