Using bright light therapy to improve symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea
Bright Light Therapy for Residual Daytime Symptoms Associated With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
This study is testing if bright light therapy can help people with obstructive sleep apnea feel less sleepy during the day, even when they are using their CPAP machines.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 40 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development Federal |
| Locations | 1 site (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) |
| Trial ID | NCT05917119 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study investigates the effects of Bright Light Therapy (BLT) on individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who experience persistent daytime sleepiness despite using Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). Participants will undergo a crossover design, receiving both active BLT and a sham treatment for four weeks each, allowing for direct comparison of outcomes. The study aims to determine if BLT can enhance sleep quality and reduce daytime sleepiness in this population. The hypothesis is that active treatment will lead to significant improvements in symptoms compared to the sham treatment.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea who have been using CPAP or BiPAP for at least three months and still experience excessive daytime sleepiness.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions such as narcolepsy, poorly controlled diabetes, or those who have recently traveled across time zones may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce daytime sleepiness and improve quality of life for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
How similar studies have performed: While the application of bright light therapy in sleep disorders is established, this specific approach for OSA is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Documented diagnosis of OSA * Currently on CPAP or BiPAP for at least 3 months * with documented adherence (defined as wearing CPAP/BiPAP for \>6h/night on at least 75% of nights), and adequate control of sleep apnea, as indicated by an AHI of 10 or less when on CPAP * Excessive residual daytime sleepiness (Epworth score \> 10) * If taking alertness promoting medication, the investigators will require that they are on a stable dose for at least one month prior to entering the study and that they refrain from dose changes while participating in the study * If already prescribed BLT, subjects must not have used it for at least one month prior to participating Exclusion Criteria: * Shift work * Travel across time zones in the past month * Narcolepsy * Regular hypnotics use * Decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF) * Primary central sleep apnea, needing O2 therapy via nasal cannula * Poorly controlled diabetes (HgA1c\>8%) * Active substance use disorder * Dementia * Untreated bipolar disorder * the investigators will consider individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who are currently in treatment and stable * Macular degeneration, recent lasik surgery (within 3 months) * Legally blind * Taking medication that will cause photosensitivity to blue-green light spectrum wavelength * Already using bright light therapy
Where this trial is running
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Isabella Soreca, MD — VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA
- Study coordinator: Isabella Soreca, MD
- Email: Isabella.Soreca@va.gov
- Phone: (412) 688-6000
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.