Sleep Apnea in TIA/Stroke: Reducing Cardiovascular Risk With Positive Airway Pressure (SleepTight)

The goal of this study is to develop a novel study design to safely and ethically conduct a long-term randomized controlled trial among patients at high risk for both sleep apnea and cardiovascular events that will examine whether effective positive airway pressure(PAP) therapy reduces cardiovascular risk. Patients with transient ischemic attack(TIA) or stroke have a high prevalence of sleep apnea(60-80%), and they are at high risk of cardiovascular events(myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, recurrent stroke, and cardiovascular death)in the first year post event, despite current prevent strategies. Therefore, the treatment of sleep apnea may represent a novel therapeutic target to reduce cardiovascular outcomes in this high risk population.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stroke; Transient Ischemic Attack
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Standard CPAP Intervention; Behavioral: Enhanced CPAP Intervention

Detailed Description

The proposed study is a randomized controlled trial among patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and minor stroke, comparing strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep apnea with usual care over 6-12 months at 2 sites (Yale University School of Medicine and Indiana University School of Medicine). Patients with TIA and minor stroke will be randomly assigned to either usual care or a diagnosis and treatment approach that includes ambulatory polysomnography and initiation of autotitrating CPAP for sleep apnea in a 1:2 (control:intervention) randomization scheme. Intervention patients with sleep apnea will receive either a standard CPAP treatment intervention or an enhanced protocol designed to increase long-term CPAP adherence. The primary outcomes will include: (a) the impact of CPAP on pathophysiologic markers in the following domains of cardiovascular risk: inflammation (CRP, Il-6), heightened sympathetic activity/parasympathetic withdrawal (plasma catecholamines and heart rate variability (HRV)), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, HbA1C), endothelial injury (flow mediated vasodilation), and atherosclerosis (carotid intima-media thickness); and (b) long-term (6-12 month) CPAP adherence.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 255
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Connecticut
    • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06511
      • Yale University
  • Indiana
    • Indianapolis, Indiana, United States, 46202
      • University of Indiana

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years and older
• TIA or ischemic stroke
• within 1 week of neurological symptom onset
• brain imaging within 24 hours

Exclusion Criteria:

• known to have sleep apnea
• suspected sleep disorder other than sleep apnea
• hospice patients or patients receiving comfort only measures
• patients unable to use a nasal or face mask
• patients who require mechanical ventilation
• Non English language patients
• inability to provide informed consent
• active suicidal ideation
• live outside the recruitment area
• provider does not allow researcher to contact patient

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Standard Intervention group; This group gets unattended sleep study, auto titrating CPAP, and standard CPAP support.	Device: Standard CPAP Intervention
Active Comparator: Enhanced CPAP intervention; This group gets an unattended sleep study, autotitrating CPAP, and enhanced CPAP support.	Behavioral: Enhanced CPAP Intervention
No Intervention: Usual Care; This group usual care after TIA/stroke and a sleep study at the end of the study.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
HOMA IR Change From Baseline	The homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). HOMA IR change is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk. HOMA-IR Index (measured by calculating - fasting insulin (microU/L) x fasting glucose (nmol/L)/22.5.). The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline and up to 12 months
CRP Change From Baseline	C-reactive protein (CRP) is a blood test marker for inflammation in the body. CRP is produced in the liver and its level is measured by testing the blood. CRP is classified as an acute phase reactant, which means that its levels will rise in response to inflammation. CRP is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline and up to 12 months
IL-6 Change From Baseline	IL-6 is a type of protein known as a cytokine, produced by cells of the immune system in response to an infection. IL-6 test results measure the amount of IL-6 circulating in the blood and are used as one sign of systemic inflammation. Il-6 is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline and up to 12 months
Catecholamine Change From Baseline	Catecholamine testing measures the amounts of catecholamines which are a group of similar substances/hormones released into the blood in response to physical or emotional stress. The primary catecholamines are dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline), and norepinephrine. Catecholamine is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline and up to 12 months
Heart Rate Variability Change From Baseline	Heart rate variability (HRV) is the constant variation in milliseconds between heartbeats. HRV is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline and up to 12 months
24-H Systolic Blood Pressure Mean Change From Baseline	24-H Systolic Blood Pressure is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk- this was assessed multiple times and averaged across a in 24 hour time period. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline and up to 12 months
Flow-mediated Vasodilation Mean Change From Baseline	Flow-mediated vasodilation is performed when the brachial artery diameter is measured (in mm) during three conditions; baseline (after at least 10 min supine rest), during reactive hyperaemia (induced by inflation to 250 mmHg and then deflation of a sphygmomanometer cuff around the forearm) and finally after the administration of sublingual nitroglycerin. A linear array, high resolution ultrasound transducer is used to provide B-mode images of the target vessel, proximal to the forearm cuff. Flow-mediated vasodilation is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk and the mean of the change in the multiple measurements was used at each time point. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline to up to 12 months
Carotid Intima-Medial Thickness Mean Change From Baseline	Carotid Intima-Medial Thickness are measurements of the mean values of Intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries. Caroid Intima-Medial Thickness mean change is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline to up to 12 months
CPAP Adherence Rates Change From Baseline	CPAP adherence rates were calculated as hours of CPAP use per night. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed. The Respironics M-series (now System One, Phillips Respironics, North Ryde, Australia) produced a record of the patient adherence (hours of use per night) throughout the duration of the follow up period.	Baseline to up to 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
HOMA IR Change From Baseline With CPAP Use	The homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). HOMA IR change is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk. HOMA-IR Index (measured by calculating - fasting insulin (microU/L) x fasting glucose (nmol/L)/22.5.) To determine if CPAP use had an impact on cardiovascular risk, these measures were compared among CPAP usage groups. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline to up to 12 months
CRP Change From Baseline With CPAP Use	C-reactive protein (CRP) is a blood test marker for inflammation in the body. CRP is produced in the liver and its level is measured by testing the blood. CRP is classified as an acute phase reactant, which means that its levels will rise in response to inflammation. CRP is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk. To determine if CPAP use had an impact on cardiovascular risk, these measures were compared among CPAP usage groups. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline to up to 12 months
IL-6 Change From Baseline With CPAP Use	IL-6 is a type of protein known as a cytokine, produced by cells of the immune system in response to an infection. IL-6 test results measure the amount of IL-6 circulating in the blood and are used as one sign of systemic inflammation. IL-6 is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk. To determine if CPAP use had an impact on cardiovascular risk, these measures were compared among CPAP usage groups. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline to up to 12 months
Catecholamine Change From Baseline With CPAP Use	Catecholamine testing measures the amounts of catecholamines which are a group of similar substances/hormones released into the blood in response to physical or emotional stress. The primary catecholamines are dopamine, epinephrine (adrenaline), and norepinephrine. Catecholamines change is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk. To determine if CPAP use had an impact on cardiovascular risk, these measures were compared among CPAP usage groups. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline to up to 12 months
Heart Rate Variability Change From Baseline With CPAP Use	Heart rate variability (HRV) is the constant variation in milliseconds between heartbeats. HRV is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk. To determine if CPAP use had an impact on cardiovascular risk, these measures were compared among CPAP usage groups. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline to up to 12 months
24-H Mean Systolic Blood Pressure Change From Baseline With CPAP Use	24-H Mean Systolic Blood Pressure change is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk- this was assessed multiple times and averaged across a in 24 hour time period. To determine if CPAP use had an impact on cardiovascular risk, these measures were compared among CPAP usage groups. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline to up to 12 months
Flow-mediated Vasodilation Mean Change From Baseline With CPAP Use	Flow-mediated vasodilation is performed when the brachial artery diameter is measured (in mm) during three conditions; baseline (after at least 10 min supine rest), during reactive hyperaemia (induced by inflation to 250 mmHg and then deflation of a sphygmomanometer cuff around the forearm) and finally after the administration of sublingual nitroglycerin. A linear array, high resolution ultrasound transducer is used to provide B-mode images of the target vessel, proximal to the forearm cuff. Flow-mediated vasodilation is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk and the mean of the change in the multiple measurements was used at each time point. To determine if CPAP use had an impact on cardiovascular risk, these measures were compared among CPAP usage groups. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline to up to 12 months
Carotid Intima-Medial Thickness Change From Baseline With CPAP Use Change	Carotid Intima-Medial Thickness are measurements of the mean values of Intima-media thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries. Caroid Intima-Medial Thickness change is one of the measures used to assess cardiovascular risk. To determine if CPAP use had an impact on cardiovascular risk, these measures were compared among CPAP usage groups. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed. The carotid intimal thickness measurement was obtained by averaging the distance between the lumen-intima interface and the media-adventitia interface obtained from 5 contiguous sites 1 mm apart.	Baseline to up to 12 months
Medication-adjusted 24-H SBP Change From Baseline	Change in medication-adjusted 24-hour SBP, which is calculated as [mean 24-hour SBP in mmHg] + [patient's DDD × (8.0 mmHg), was assessed between CPAP adherence groups. The change from baseline up until the final measurement (up to 12 months) was assessed.	Baseline to up to 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Yale University
• Collaborators: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); Indiana University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Henry Yaggi, MD,MPH, Yale University; Principal Investigator: Dawn M Bravata, M.D., Indiana University School of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Yaggi HK, Mittleman MA, Bravata DM, Concato J, Ware J, Stoney CM, Redline S. Reducing cardiovascular risk through treatment of obstructive sleep apnea: 2 methodological approaches. Am Heart J. 2016 Feb;172:135-43. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2015.07.033. Epub 2015 Sep 11.
• Koo BB, Bravata DM, Tobias LA, Mackey JS, Miech EJ, Matthias MS, Stahl SM, Sico JJ, Vaz Fragoso CA, Williams LS, Lampert R, Qin L, Yaggi HK. Observational Study of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Wake-Up Stroke: The SLEEP TIGHT Study. Cerebrovasc Dis. 2016;41(5-6):233-41. doi: 10.1159/000440736. Epub 2016 Jan 27.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2013
• Study Completion (Actual): April 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 3, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 4, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): October 5, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 18, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 27, 2020
• Last Verified: October 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: stroke; Sleep Apnea; CPAP adherence; behavioral adherence
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Apnea; Respiration Disorders; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Brain Ischemia; Stroke; Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Ischemic Attack, Transient
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1101007811; U34HL105285-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: Resource sharing plan In compliance NIH recommendations, we affirm our commitment to share our final research data in a timely fashion for this proposed study with the scientific community. We intend this to occur no later than the time of acceptance for publication of the main findings from the final dataset. We will share all data from the funded research that can be shared without compromising individual subjects' rights and privacy, regardless of whether the data have been used for publication.