Impact of Treated and Untreated OSA on 30-Day Hospital Readmission among Medical Beneficiaries with Pre-existing Cardiovascular Disease
2021 Diversity Supplement Grant
Doyinsola Bailey, PhD
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Key Project Outcomes
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and its treatment may have an important impact on hospitalization and 30-day readmissions, particularly among older adults with pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD). In order to advance understanding of the impact of OSA on hospitalizations and the potential therapeutic effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in this population, the objective of the proposed research was to provide insight into the impact of OSA and adherence to CPAP on 30-day hospital readmissions among Medicare beneficiaries with pre-existing CVD. We conducted a study among Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥ 65 years who were diagnosed with CVD. Within this group, beneficiaries with undiagnosed OSA were at increased risk of hospitalization. We also observed that even among beneficiaries who were hospitalized, those with undiagnosed OSA were at higher risk of 30-day hospital readmission. Next, we examined the impact of adherence to CPAP on 30-day hospital readmission among beneficiaries hospitalized with comorbid OSA and CVD. Compared to patients with low CPAP adherence, those with high adherence reduced risk of 30-day readmission.