Sleep Apnea clinical trials at UCLA

The purpose of this study is to determine whether treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with positive airway pressure starting shortly after acute ischemic stroke (1) reduces recurrent stroke, acute coronary syndrome, and all-cause mortality 6 months after the event, and (2) improves stroke outcomes at 3 months in patients who experienced an ischemic stroke.

The purpose of this study is to examine the mechanisms of brain injury contributing to postoperative neurocognitive disorders (PNCD) in an at-risk population (obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)) undergoing surgery. The investigators will enroll 50 OSA patients scheduled for surgery. All patients will have a brain scan (fMRI) within five days before surgery and two days and six months after surgery. During this visit cognitive function will be assessed using the Wide Range Assessment of Memory and Learning (WRAML2) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tests. Patients will also be asked to participate in a blood draw during the first 2 visits for fMRI (within five days of surgery and two days after surgery). The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM-S) test, will be used to examine postoperative delirium.

The goal of this clinical trial in adults with obstructive sleep apnea prescribed positive airway pressure therapy is to test the effects of a new patient-facing consumer wearable-based program (that involves provision of a consumer wearable that measures oxygen levels during sleep plus customized weekly reports to participants). The main question is to learn whether participants' use of positive airway pressure therapy will differ between the participants who receive the new program immediately versus delayed. Participants assigned to the delayed program will receive usual care while waiting for the program to begin.

Prospective, interventional cohort study of drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) to evaluate the upper airway in a cohort of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) surgical patients. This study has investigated the reliability of this technique, demonstrating moderate-substantial interrater and test-retest reliability. This research has also compared DISE findings to those of the lateral cephalogram X-ray and examined DISE findings in individuals who have not responded to previous sleep apnea surgery. These papers have been published and available through PubMed. Additional research is ongoing, with examination of DISE findings, comparison to other evaluation techniques, and the association between DISE findings and surgical outcomes.

This study will examine factors associated with outcomes after soft palate surgery and medications (acetazolamide, eszopiclone) that may treat other potential causes of obstructive sleep apnea (loop gain, arousal threshold).