Cognitive Function and Quality of Life in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

NCT07678918 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Cognition and QoL in OSA
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 86
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common condition that disrupts normal breathing during sleep. Beyond causing daytime tiredness, OSA can also impact a person's cognitive functions, such as their attention span, memory, and problem-solving skills, which may in turn affect their overall quality of life. The main purpose of this study is to compare the thinking and memory skills of adults recently diagnosed with OSA against a control group of healthy adults without the condition. Furthermore, the researchers aim to understand how specific cognitive challenges (like difficulty sustaining attention) relate to a patient's physical and mental well-being. Participants in the study will undergo an overnight sleep test (diagnostic polysomnography) at a sleep clinic. Shortly after the sleep test, participants will complete a series of short, computer-based tasks designed to measure their attention, memory, and executive function. They will also be asked to fill out standard questionnaires regarding their daily sleepiness, mood, and health-related quality of life.

Conditions

Obstructive Sleep Apnea; Cognitive Impairment; Quality of Life

Keywords

Obstructive Sleep Apnea; Cognitive Function; Quality of Life; Neurocognitive Impairment; Psychomotor Vigilance; Polysomnography; SF-36

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Time on the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT)

  The mean reaction time, reported in milliseconds, for the total number of trials over the 10-minute Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) to evaluate sustained attention

  Within 10 days following the diagnostic polysomnography (PSG)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Working Memory Assessed via Memory Span Test

  Within 10 days following the diagnostic polysomnography (PSG)

Study Arms (2)

Patients Group (OSA)

Patients aged \> 18 years meeting the AASM diagnostic criteria for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who are attending the Sleep Medicine Unit for diagnostic polysomnography (PSG).

Control Group

Healthy community members matched to the patient group by age, sex, education level, social status, and comorbidities, who do not have an intermediate or high risk of undiagnosed OSA as assessed by the STOP-BANG questionnaire.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population comprises two groups: an adult patient group and a healthy control group. The patient group includes individuals over 18 years of age who meet the AASM diagnostic criteria for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and are attending the Sleep Medicine Unit at Assiut University Hospital for diagnostic polysomnography. The control group consists of healthy community members related to the patients. These controls are matched for age, sex, education level, social status, and comorbidities, and must have a low risk of undiagnosed OSA as verified by the STOP-BANG questionnaire.

You may qualify if:

• Patients Group: Age \> 18 years.
• Patients Group: Meeting the AASM diagnostic criteria for OSA.
• Control Group: Age and sex-matched community members related to the patients.
• Control Group: Education level, social status, and comorbidity-matched people.

You may not qualify if:

• Patients Group: OSA patients who are compliant on PAP therapy (\> 4 hours, \> 5 nights/week) for ≥ 6 months.
• Patients Group: Inability to comprehend and/or co-operate with the instructions provided by the investigators during neurocognitive function assessment.
• Patients Group: History of neurological comorbidities with potential cognitive impairment (previous cerebrovascular stroke, dementia).
• Patients Group: Patients who are maintained on medications that potentially impair cognitive performance (histamine receptor antagonist, antipsychotic, antidepressant, or mood stabilizer drugs).
• Patients Group: Use of alcohol, or illicit drugs that interfere with cognitive function (cannabis, opioids, amphetamine or equivalents).
• Control Group: Intermediate or high-risk of having undiagnosed OSA as assessed by the STOP-BANG questionnaire.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Assiut University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Apnea; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias; Sleep Wake Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Resident at Chest Diseases & Tuberculosis Department, Assiut University

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 25, 2026
• First Posted: July 1, 2026
• Study Start: August 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2027
• Last Updated: July 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06