Exclusion criteria from the study included those with sleep
disorders other than OSAHS, previous treatment with CPAP
for OSAHS or the presence of a competing diagnosis that
could limit assessment or result in the likelihood of noncompletion
of the study. Patients with significant severe
comorbidities, such as unstable ischaemic heart disease with
angina at rest or on minimal exertion or severe musculoskeletal problems preventing them from walking, were excluded.
The study received ethical approval from the South Yorkshire
Research Ethics Committee. All participating patients provided
written consent agreeing to inclusion in the study.