Could treating sleep apnea during a COPD hospital stay keep patients out of the hospital?
NCT ID NCT03647462
First seen Jul 20, 2026 · Last updated Jul 21, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates whether diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) early and starting CPAP therapy in patients hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can reduce the number of patients who are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. Participants are Kaiser Permanente members aged 18 and older with a primary COPD diagnosis and untreated OSA. The study uses CPAP, a standard device that keeps the airway open during sleep, and tracks hospital readmissions and mortality.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy, a device that delivers positive air pressure to keep the airway open during sleep
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that diagnosing and treating sleep apnea early during a COPD hospital stay lowers the chance of being readmitted within 30 days.
- What could go wrong
- This is a relatively small, early-stage study, and CPAP is already standard for sleep apnea; the added benefit for COPD patients is unproven, and adherence to nightly CPAP use can be challenging.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Sleep Center; San Bernardino County Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente
Fontana, California, 92335, United States
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