Fact of the day

A sweep of 17 randomised trials found acetazolamide, a drug best known for altitude sickness, generally improved overnight oxygen levels and reduced breathing disruptions in sleep apnoea. In obstructive sleep apnoea at low altitude, reported reductions in breathing-event rates ranged from roughly 42 to 69.4%, though effects varied widely by context.

Study design

Review

Journal

Int Orthod

Evidence

preliminary

⚠What it shows: Encouraging but not yet a treatment you can count on: the 17 trials disagreed with each other so much that their results could not be combined into one number, and the size of the benefit swung widely between types of apnoea and settings. The reviewers themselves say large, long-term trials are needed to work out dosing and who actually responds.Review · Int Orthod