Abstract

Introduction: Snoring is bothersome and unhealthy  and also affects the partner’s sleep quality.  In 2018, at the initial phase of our study, prior to therapy, we observed  that quality of life was  affected in both patients with sleep apnea and their partners .

Objective: To  assess  quality of life, emotional and sexual changes in the patient´s partner after one year of continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) treatment.

Material and methods: Comparative longitudinal , n=104,study with 52 patients with obstructive sleep apnea and their partners at the Hospital Alvaro Cunqueiro in Vigo, Spain. Patients received CPAP therapy  during one year. We analyzed physical ,mental and sexual changes with validated questionnaires: SF36 (for quality of life), HAD ( for depression and anxiety), and CSFQ ( for sexual variables). We also used a Likert scale created by our research team  to evaluate the impact on their partners.Statistical data analysis were done using SPSS.

Results : After one year on CPAP therapy, partners showed lower levels of anxiety and depression compared with the year before (P<0,001). Items related to quality of life. Ninety percent of partners reported that CPAP has considerably improvedpatients’ health.

Conclusions: After one year of treatment, partners showed a decrease in anxiety and depression variables as well as an increase in all spheres of quality of life, also libido. It can be affirmed that CPAP treatment  improves the general health status in both patient and partner.