Baseline characteristics of randomised patients
| All patients | CPAP treatment | No CPAP treatment | |
| Subjects | 145 | 73 | 72 |
| Age years | 74.9±4.6 | 74.6±4.2 | 75.0±5.0 |
| Males | 95 (65.5) | 50 (68.5) | 45 (62.5) |
| BMI kg·m−2 | 30.4±5.5 | 31.1±6.2 | 29.6±4.8 |
| BMI ≥30 mg·m−2 | 74 (51.8) | 39 (53.4) | 35 (48.6) |
| Neck circumference cm | 40.9±3.6 | 41.4±3.5 | 40.3±3.9 |
| ESS score | 9±4 | 9±4 | 9±4 |
| ESS score ≥10 | 54 (37.8) | 28 (38.4) | 26 (36.1) |
| Sleep study: respiratory polygraphy | 118 (82.5) | 57 (78.1) | 61 (84.7) |
| Arterial hypertension | 100 (69.9) | 50 (68.5) | 50 (69.4) |
| Diabetes | 41 (28.7) | 19 (26.0) | 22 (30.6) |
| Dyslipidaemia | 83 (58.0) | 42 (57.5) | 41 (56.9) |
| Past CVEs | 28 (19.6) | 16 (21.9) | 12 (16.7) |
| Atrial fibrillation | 19 (13.3) | 9 (12.3) | 10 (13.9) |
| COPD | 16 (11.2) | 12 (16.4) | 4 (5.6) |
| Insomnia | 30 (20.9) | 16 (21.9) | 14 (19.4) |
| Depression | 24 (16.8) | 10 (13.7) | 14 (19.4) |
| AHI events·h−1 | 21.7±4.8 | 22.2±4.3 | 21.3±5.2 |
| ODI3% events·h−1 | 20.4±9.9 | 21.3±7.8 | 19.6±11.7 |
| Tsat <90% % | 14.4±25.5 | 14.2±28.1 | 14.6±22.7 |
| Central AHI events·h−1 | 1.43±2.5 | 1.32±2.4 | 1.53±2.6 |
| Minimum oxygen saturation % | 78.5±10.4 | 77.9±8.7 | 79.1±11.9 |
Data are presented as n, mean±sd or n (%). CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure; BMI: body mass index; ESS: Epworth Sleepiness Scale; CVE: cardiovascular event (ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease); COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; AHI: apnoea–hypopnoea index; ODI3%: oxygen desaturation index at 3%; Tsat <90%: night time spent with oxygen saturation <90%.