Sleep Apnea in Paralympic Ontario-Resident aThletes With Spinal Cord Injury (SPORTS) Study

Launched by UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK, TORONTO · Dec 24, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The SPORTS study is looking at how effective a treatment called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is for athletes with spinal cord injuries who have sleep-related breathing problems, like sleep apnea. This trial aims to see if using CPAP can help improve thinking skills, reduce feelings of tiredness, depression, and anxiety, and enhance overall quality of life for these para-athletes. Additionally, the study will investigate whether this treatment can improve their sports performance and help them feel safer during activities.

To join this study, participants need to be adults aged 18 or older with a cervical or thoracic spinal cord injury that has lasted for more than six months and must play a wheelchair sport at a high-performance level. Those who have previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea or have certain other health conditions may not be eligible. Participants will receive CPAP therapy and will be monitored for improvements in their health and sports performance throughout the study. This is a great opportunity for eligible athletes to contribute to important research that could benefit others in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Individuals with a cervical or thoracic, complete or incomplete (AIS A to D), chronic (\> 6 months) SCI;
• • English-speaking adults (18 years of age or older); and
• • Play a wheelchair sport at a high-performance level.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • A previous history of diagnosis and treatment for sleep apnea;
• • Concomitant diseases of the central nervous system and other pre-existing diseases of the central nervous system;
• • Current substance misuse;
• • History of primary hypersomnia, or secondary hypersomnia of any cause except for SRBDs.
• • Conditions that might prevent participants to follow the study protocol.