The development of an exercise intervention framework as a modality of treatment for individuals with obstructive sleep apnea, in the South African public healthcare setting
type: CreativeWork
description: Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is described as a breathing-related sleep disorder wherein your ventilation is impaired during sleep, due to the narrowing and collapse of the upper airway. Untreated OSA has been shown to increase the number of severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Common treatment modalities for OSA, including surgical intervention and continuous positive airway pressure therapy are effective but remain extremely expensive. It is thus often inaccessible to those in a low-income, under-resourced setting, or those without access to healthcare, as is the case for the majority of South Africans. Since addressing weight loss is a key component of OSA treatment, exercise may provide the benefits of addressing both weight loss and inflammation in OSA patients, as well as lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, and comorbidities that arise from obesity. Aims: The aims of this study were to understand the nature of, and perception to, current physical activity (PA) habits as well as barriers to exercise, faced by individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA group) compared to a control group of individuals without OSA (CON group). This information was then used to design an exercise intervention framework for OSA patients which can be implemented in an under-resourced setting, such as in the public healthcare system in South Africa. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data already collected as part of a larger study investigating “Physical activity and sedentary behavior among patients with obstructive sleep apnoea in South Africa” (HREC Ref: 142/2021). The parent observational study made use of custom and validated questionnaires answered by adults diagnosed with moderate to severe OSA and control participants with no OSA. Participants were asked to report on current and past exercise habits, perceptions, enablers, and barriers to PA, as well as preferred modes of exercise, which were further analyzed. Result…
abstract: Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is described as a breathing-related sleep disorder wherein your ventilation is impaired during sleep, due to the narrowing and collapse of the upper airway. Untreated OSA has been shown to increase the number of severe cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Common treatment modalities for OSA, including surgical intervention and continuous positive airway pressure therapy are effective but remain extremely expensive. It is thus often inaccessible to those in a low-income, under-resourced setting, or those without access to healthcare, as is the case for the majority of South Africans. Since addressing weight loss is a key component of OSA treatment, exercise may provide the benefits of addressing both weight loss and inflammation in OSA patients, as well as lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, and comorbidities that arise from obesity. Aims: The aims of this study were to understand the nature of, and perception to, current physical activity (PA) habits as well as barriers to exercise, faced by individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA group) compared to a control group of individuals without OSA (CON group). This information was then used to design an exercise intervention framework for OSA patients which can be implemented in an under-resourced setting, such as in the public healthcare system in South Africa. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of data already collected as part of a larger study investigating “Physical activity and sedentary behavior among patients with obstructive sleep apnoea in South Africa” (HREC Ref: 142/2021). The parent observational study made use of custom and validated questionnaires answered by adults diagnosed with moderate to severe OSA and control participants with no OSA. Participants were asked to report on current and past exercise habits, perceptions, enablers, and barriers to PA, as well as preferred modes of exercise, which were further analyzed. Result…
author: Jaffer, Zakirah
keywords: Biokinetics
date published: 2023
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:22:38Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Department of Human Biology

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39544