Routine prescription of CPAP to patients with CAD with nonsleepy OSA did not significantly reduce long-term adverse cardiovascular outcomes in the intention-to-treat population. There was a significant reduction after adjustment for baseline comorbidities and compliance with the treatment. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 00519597).

The RICCADSA trial will contribute to defining the impact of CPAP on prognosis of CAD patients with OSA.

The occurrence of unrecognized OSA in this revascularized CAD cohort was higher than previously reported. We suggest that OSA should be considered in the secondary prevention protocols in CAD.

OSA with ODI ≥ 5 was independently associated with increased inflammatory activity in this nonobese CAD cohort. The intermittent hypoxemia, rather than the number of apneas and hypopneas, appears to be primarily associated with enhanced inflammation.