Neurocognitive and Health Impact of Sleep Apnea in Elderly Veterans With Comorbid COPD (NCT02703207)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
Cognitive dysfunction in the aging Veteran population is a growing health concern in the Veterans Health System. It is not known whether OSA coexisting with COPD will enhance the risk for cognitive dysfunction. The investigators sought to investigate whether these two highly prevalent diseases, that often co-exist as the 'Overlap Syndrome', combine to enhance cognitive impairment in the elderly Veteran population. Thus, the investigators will study whether elderly patients with Overlap syndrome have increased cognitive deficits compared with OSA or COPD alone. Additionally, treatment of OSA with positive airway pressure (PAP) has been shown to improve neurocognitive function in moderate-to-severe OSA while cognitive decline in COPD may be reversible through treatment with long-term oxygen therapy. The investigators will also study whether treatment with positive airway pressure (PAP) and supplemental oxygen vs PAP alone will improve cognitive function and improve quality of life of elderly Veterans.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (4 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (23 items).
Location: John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI — Detroit, Michigan
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Mild COPD
- Mild OSA
- Overlap Syndrome with mild OSA plus mild COPD
- Central sleep apnea defined as central apnea index \>5 per hour
- Already on daytime oxygen or nighttime CPAP, NIPPV, oral appliance
- Current smokers
- Pregnant women
- Disorders of hypoventilation due to known neuromuscular or chest wall diseases\*\*
- Patients with significant restrictive lung disease on pulmonary function testing
- Recent admission for any acute illness within the prior 4 months
- Current psychiatric illness requiring sedating medications
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, Detroit, MI — Detroit, Michigan
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.