Effect of exercise in the patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of exercise on pulmonary functions, fatigue parameters among sleep structure and quality of life in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS)Methods: Twenty patients with mild to moderate OSAS with mean age of 51.20 ± 7.60 years were included in the study either as exercise or control group. The control group received standard treatment (medical treatment and diet) whereas the exercise group received exercise training in addition to the standard treatment. Exercise program consisting of breathing, relaxation and aerobic exercises (as to supplement standard treatment) was applied 3 days weekly for 12 weeks. Two groups were assessed through clinical and laboratory measurements after 12 weeks. In the evaluations bicycle ergometer test was used for exercise capacity, pulmonary function test for pulmonary functions and maximal inspiratory-expiratory pressure for ventilatuar muscle strength, polysomnography for apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and sleep parameters, Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ) and SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire for quality of sleep and quality of health, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) for daytime sleepiness, and anthropometric measurement.Results: For the control group, the outcomes prior to and following 12-weeks follow-up period were found to be similar. For the exercise group, no change was found in the anthropometric and respiratory measurements (p>0.05) whereas significant improvements were found in exercise capacity, AHI, quality of sleep, and quality of life (p<0.05). After the follow-up period, it was shown that improvement in the exercise group didn?t lead to a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05).Conclusion: Exercise training appears not to change anthropometric characteristics and respiratory functions while it improves structure of sleep, quality of life and exercise capacity in the patients with mild to moderate OSAS.Key words: Mild to moderate Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), breathing and exercise.