Author information
1 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave, M2 Annex, Cleveland, OH 44114, USA.
2 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Digestive Disease and Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave, M2 Annex, Cleveland, OH 44114, USA; Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. Electronic address: mcculla@ccf.org.
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a disorder of altered metabolic pathways, is increasing worldwide. Recent studies established obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) as NAFLD risk factors. Studies have ascertained that CIH is independently related to NAFLD. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) shows inconsistent results regarding its efficacy in improving NAFLD. Observational, longer duration CPAP therapy studies have shown positive outcomes, whereas shorter duration, randomized controlled trials have shown no benefit. A multifaceted approach to NAFLD management with sufficiently longer duration of CPAP therapy may be beneficial in patients with moderate to severe OSA.