Exploring treatments for central sleep apnea

Central Sleep Apnea: Physiologic Mechanisms to Inform Treatment

Phase 4 Interventional VA Office of Research and Development · NCT04118387

This study is testing new combination treatments for central sleep apnea in veterans to see if they can help improve breathing and quality of life.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 4
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment200 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorVA Office of Research and Development Federal
Locations1 site (Detroit, Michigan)
Trial IDNCT04118387 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the physiological mechanisms underlying central sleep apnea (CSA) to inform future treatment strategies. It focuses on testing combination therapies, including positive airway pressure (PAP) alongside pharmacological agents like acetazolamide and zolpidem, in veterans with CSA. The goal is to identify effective multi-modality therapies that can normalize respiration and improve the quality of life for patients suffering from this condition. The study aims to provide insights that could guide future clinical trials and enhance care for individuals with CSA.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are men and women veterans diagnosed with central sleep apnea, specifically those with an Apnea Hypopnea Index greater than 15 per hour.

Not a fit: Patients who are under 18 years old, pregnant, or have severe respiratory diseases requiring oxygen therapy may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more effective treatment options for patients with central sleep apnea, improving their overall health and quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: While the approach of using combination therapies for CSA is being explored, the specific combination of treatments in this study is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Men and women Veterans with central sleep apnea, defined as Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI)\>15/hour with CAHI\>5/hour, will be included in the experiments

Exclusion Criteria:

* less than 18 years old
* pregnant or breastfeeding female
* have severe respiratory disease that require to be on oxygen
* recent health event that may affect the ability to participate in the study,
* Body Mass Index (BMI) is \>40 kg/m2
* significant insomnia
* mental instability
* recent health event that may affect sleep
* if at any time the principal investigator (PI) identifies that a certain drug is not suitable, or are unable to use the device that is used to treat sleep apnea, will be not be allowed to participate in the study

Where this trial is running

Detroit, Michigan

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Sleep Disordered BreathingAble BodiedCentral sleep apneaPolysomnographyRespiratory arousal thresholdApnea Hypopnea indexCentral Apnea Hypopnea IndexBreathing instability
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.