Results: Fifty-seven patients participated in the 5-year follow-up. At 5 years from the baseline, the change in AHI between the groups was significant in the successful group ( 3.5 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 6.1 to 0.9]) compared with the unsuccessful group (5.0 [95% CI, 2.0–8.5]) (P = .002). Successful weight reduction achieved an 80% reduction in the incidence of progression of OSA compared to the unsuccessful group (log-rank test, P = .016).
Conclusions: A moderate but sustained weight reduction can prevent the progression of the disease or even cure mild OSA in obese patients.