Effects of Compression Stockings on the Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in hemodialysis patients is a sleep disorder that involves stopping or decreasing airflow to breathe during sleep due to excess fluid in the leg. Compression Stockings (CSs) with 30-40 mmHg are highpressure elastic stockings that are assumed to reduce foot fluid accumulation during the day and to prevent overnight fluid shifting to the neck. Purpose: The study aimed to determine the effects of 30-40 mmHg CSs on the risk of OSA in hemodialysis patients. Method: This study used a pre-posttest quasi-experimental design with a control group. Purposive sampling was applied to recruit 68 hemodialysis patients to participate in the study. The risk score of OSA was measured using the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Highpressure CSs were given for one week to the intervention group with two OSA measurements on the 4th and 7th days. The data then were analyzed using the Post Hoc Wilcoxon test and the Mann Whitney test. Results: There was a significant difference between the risk score for OSA before and after the use of 30-40 mmHg CSs in the intervention group on day 4 (p=0.000), and day 7 (p=0.000), compared to the control group. Conclusion: High-pressure CSs decreased the risk of OSA in hemodialysis patients by avoiding fluid retention in the legs, thus preventing fluid shifting to the neck. CSs could be recommended as an alternative to prevent the risk of OSA in hemodialysis patients. Keywords: Compression stockings; fluid shift; hemodialysis; obstructive sleep apnea