Delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) for Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

sleep apnea, obstructive, can adversely affect daytime and night-time HRV, as well as cause cardiovascular, cognitive, and psychological problems. The latter can be improved with CPAP correction of sleep apnea.

Approximately 5 million Americans get obstructive [sleep apnea](https://www.withpower.com/clinical-trials/sleep-apnea), and about 4.8 million have severe sleep apnea. These numbers suggest that sleep apnea is an increasingly important problem. More research is needed to determine the exact prevalence of these conditions among different types of sleep disorders, and to identify modifiable risk factors and interventions that will reduce the burden of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is a medical syndrome that often affects otherwise healthy preteen children. Sleep apnea may be a risk factor of developing sleep related breathing disorders like obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea, central sleep apnea, or upper airway resistant breathing. It's important for doctors to identify children with sleep apnea and ensure that proper patient care measures will be instituted so that it will be treated earlier than necessary.

Some patients with obstructive [sleep apnea](https://www.withpower.com/clinical-trials/sleep-apnea) benefit from a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. Others benefit from other therapies such as avoidance of triggers for obstructive episodes and lifestyle improvements. There are no medications for sleep apnea, so medical therapy has not been standardized. In general, no one type of treatment is best for all patients with sleep apnea because it is a very variable, often chronic condition. However, many patients and families prefer self-management. Sleep apnea, obstructive is typically the most common sleep-disordered breathing that patients seek treatment for in primary care.

Most clinicians lack the ability to differentiate patients who screen positive for sleep apnea on the basis of signs and symptoms alone. The use of polysomnography or pulse oximetry may be helpful in the evaluation of these patients, and in the management of patients with sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea cannot be cured. Most patients with obstructive sleep apnea should not be treated. They can, however, be improved by treatment of factors related to their sleep apnea, such as weight loss and medication.

The average age of people with OSA are much higher than what patients think, which suggests a great need for early diagnosis and treatment in those [over the age of 55] who are at risk for OSA.

Since 1998, the treatment of sleep apnea has become better and more effective. The use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy has improved patient compliance tremendously. However, CPAP may not be an ideal therapy for everyone because only 45% of patients improved dramatically.

Obstructive [sleep apnea](https://www.withpower.com/clinical-trials/sleep-apnea) mainly occurred in obese subjects, smoking and alcohol use, in the population with sleep-related breathing disorder, and in the elderly group with neurological illness. Therefore, it is important to assess the sleep apnea with the objective way.

Patients undergoing de-mri scans are at risk, not only for the acute, immediate, pain and adverse reactions to the scan, but also for the side effects of the MR contrast injected. The risk is greatest for younger patients, those with multiple and prior adverse reactions and those with an unstable clinical picture.

This imaging modality has a place in assessing patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as a complement to a clinical history and physical examination. It can, therefore, identify the presence of OSA in some patients. At this time, it is not known whether DE-MRI could replace PSA for surveillance in patients receiving continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Given its simplicity, relative expense, and ease of availability, it would be ideal for clinical trials looking at the effect of CPAP on brain structures.