WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC

  • Acetazolamide has been demonstrated to improve obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in people living at low altitude and central sleep apnoea in newcomers ascending to high altitude.

    • WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

  • In our study, we used data from a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover trial of 41 patients with moderate-to-severe OSA living in Lhasa (3650 m); 2-week acetazolamide significantly reduced the severity of sleep-disordered breathing, improved nocturnal oxygenation and sleep quality.

    • HOW THIS STUDY MIGHT AFFECT RESEARCH, PRACTICE OR POLICY

  • Acetazolamide may be an adjunctive treatment for patients with OSA living at high altitude where continuous positive airway pressure therapy is not tolerated, feasible or readily available.

    • Introduction

    Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a highly prevalent sleep disorder caused by repetitive partial or complete collapse of the upper airway during sleep, resulting in intermittent hypoxemia and sleep fragmentation.1 2 OSA has been associated with…