The development of an exercise intervention, as a modality of treatment for individuals with obstructive sleep apneoa

MPhil candidate: Zakirah Jaffer

Individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are commonly overweight or obese and present with inflammation, both of which exacerbate OSA itself, and increase risk for co-morbidities, specifically cardiometabolic disease. Treatment of OSA via continuous positive airway pressure therapy, while effective, is extremely expensive and inaccessible to those in a low income, under-resourced setting. Addressing weight loss is a key component of OSA treatment, and exercise may provide the benefits of addressing both weight loss and inflammation in OSA patients, as well as lowering the risk of CVD, depression, and comorbidities arising from obesity dramatically. The purpose of this study is to use a mixed method approach to design an exercise intervention framework for OSA patients from under-resourced settings.