The participants were divided into the two groups according to the weight change at 5-year follow-up using the 5% weight loss as a cutoff point, which was later referred to as the successful (n = 20) or unsuccessful groups (n = 27). The change in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was the main objective outcome variable.
Fifty-seven patients participated in the 5-year follow-up. At 5 years from the baseline, the change in AHI between the groups was significant in the successful group (鈭?.5 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 鈭?.1 to 鈭?.9]) compared with the unsuccessful group (5.0 [95% CI, 2.0-8.5]) (P = .002). Successful weight reduction achieved an 80% reduction in the incidence of progression of OSA compared to the unsuccessful group (log-rank test, P = .016).
A moderate but sustained weight reduction can prevent the progression of the disease or even cure mild OSA in obese patients.