From the Authors:
We would like to thank Dr. Sankari for his interest in our article (1). In response to his comment on our study, we would like to present detailed information about the medications in the two groups of patients based on the phenotypes analyzed, which included some specific chronotropic drugs. As expected, the percentage of patients treated in the no previous cardiovascular disease (CVD) group was reduced compared with that in the previous CVD group (Table 1). This difference could at least partially justify the finding that in the group of previous patients with CVD, we were not able to observe an increase in the recurrence of cardiovascular events in those patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Table 1.
Medications Administered to Patients at Baseline
| No Previous CVD (n = 1,381) | Previous CVD (n = 320) | P Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| β-Blockers | 161 (11.7) | 194 (60.6) | <0.001* |
| Calcium antagonists | 122 (8.83) | 81 (25.3) | <0.001* |
| Angiotensin II receptor antagonists | 181 (13.1) | 65 (20.3) | 0.001* |
| Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors | 247 (17.9) | 144 (45.0) | <0.001* |
| Diuretics drug | 193 (14.0) | 79 (24.7) | <0.001* |
| Antihypertensive drug | 567 (41.1) | 287 (89.7) | <0.001* |
Definition of abbreviation: CVD = cardiovascular disease.
Data are n (%).
Significant P values (P < 0.05).
From the initial observation of this ancillary study (1) from the Impact of Sleep Apnea Syndrome on the ISAACC (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome [ACS] and OSA) trial (2), future studies should be performed to explore not only the mechanism associated with an increased risk in the recurrence of cardiovascular events and the role of OSA but also the potential therapeutic effect of OSA treatment in this specific profile of patients with no previous CVD in whom OSA would induce a deleterious cardiovascular effect.
Footnotes
Supported by ISCIII grants 10/02763, 10/02745, and 18/00449; FEDER “Una manera de hacer Europa”; SEPAR, Catalonian Cardiology Society; ResMed Ltd., Australia; Esteve-Teijin, Spain; Oxigen Salud, Spain; and ALLER, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias.
Originally Published in Press as DOI: 10.1164/rccm.202101-0188LE on February 19, 2021
Author disclosures are available with the text of this letter at www.atsjournals.org.
References
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