AI Model Predicts CPAP’s Impact on Cardiovascular Risk in Sleep Apnea Patients

Researchers at Mount Sinai are developing artificial intelligence (AI) models designed to identify the risk of cardiovascular disease events in patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). These prediction models use machine-learning techniques to help clinicians classify which patients are most likely to benefit from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

The project, reported in March 2024, aims to create personalized tools that provide a novel approach to enhancing patient management. By optimizing treatment plans, the researchers intend to improve cardiovascular outcomes for those with sleep disorders.

Predicting CPAP Effectiveness

A significant component of the research involves predicting the effectiveness of CPAP therapy for a specific subset of patients. The AI approach is designed to identify the cardiovascular treatment effectiveness of CPAP for patients with obstructive sleep apnea who score as non-sleepy on standard clinical tests.

This capability allows medical providers to better identify which patients would benefit most from using CPAP and, conversely, which patients should avoid the treatment.

Addressing Cardiovascular Risks

The researchers are employing machine-learning techniques on comprehensive multi-modal datasets to identify patients at an enhanced risk for atherosclerosis progression, which is the buildup of fats and cholesterol in the artery walls.

By analyzing these datasets, the models seek to predict a heightened risk for major cardiovascular events, specifically heart attack and stroke.

While previous research has established the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea and its association with cardiovascular disease, limited research has demonstrated the specific benefits of continuous CPAP use on the rate of cardiovascular events.

Funding and Institutional Support

The study is supported by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Reports from March 2024 describe the funding as a four-year grant, with figures cited between $3 million and $3.32 million.

The initiative was developed in response to the NIH Sleep Research Plan’s call for further research into critical and high-priority areas of sleep health.

Scientific Context of OSA and Heart Health

The relationship between sleep disorders and heart health is a subject of ongoing clinical review. A narrative review published on December 28, 2024, in the journal *Rev Cardiovasc Med* found that cardiovascular disease and obstructive sleep apnea are either directly or indirectly related.

The review further noted that deep learning models have demonstrated significant potential in improving the risk stratification for patients with obstructive sleep apnea, supporting the direction of the research being conducted at Mount Sinai.