Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Improves Marital Relationship and Sexual Satisfaction in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients and Partners

TL;DR

Using CPAP treatment for sleep apnea improves marital and sexual satisfaction for both patients and their partners.

Contribution

This study demonstrates that CPAP treatment improves dyadic adjustment and sexual satisfaction in couples affected by obstructive sleep apnea.

Findings

CPAP treatment significantly improved dyadic adjustment scores in both patients and partners after 2 months.

Sexual satisfaction and sleep quality improved in both groups following CPAP treatment.

Anxiety, depression, and daytime sleepiness decreased in both patients and partners.

Abstract

Symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea can interfere with sleep and quality of life for the patient's partner and affect marital relationships. Our primary objective was to assess how continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment affects couples using the Dyadic Adjustment Questionnaire (DAS‐16). Secondary objectives focused on the effects on the dyad's quality of life and sleep, depending on the technical characteristics of the device. Prospective monocentric study including consecutive couples in which one of the partners began treatment by CPAP between July 2022 and February 2024 at Dijon University Hospital. After inclusion, dyads were evaluated 2 and 6 months after treatment initiation. Fifty‐four couples were analysed. After 2 months under CPAP, the dyadic adjustment score (DAS‐16) significantly improved in partners (ΔDAS‐16 = +1 [−1; 3], p = 0.025) and in patients (ΔDAS‐16 = +2 [−1; 5], p = 0.002). DAS‐16 improvement was stable after 6 months. Sexual satisfaction followed the same trend. Sleep quality assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (patients) and the Athens Insomnia Scale (partners) improved significantly, as did daytime sleepiness. A significant reduction in anxiety and depression scores, as well as an improvement in several domains of the SF‐36 questionnaire, were also demonstrated in both groups. Our study shows that the use of CPAP improves the quality of marital relationships, as perceived by both partners. These findings could provide clinicians with additional tools to enhance patient adherence and compliance with therapy.

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