A CPAP data-based algorithm for automatic early prediction of therapy adherence

Multidimensional prediction of continuous positive airway pressure adherence

OBJECTIVE

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Unsatisfactory adherence to CPAP is an important clinical issue to resolve. Cluster analysis is a powerful tool to distinguish subgroups in a multidimensional fashion. This study aimed to investigate the use of cluster analysis for predicting CPAP adherence using clinical polysomnographic (PSG) parameters and patient characteristics.

PATIENTS/METHODS

Participants of this multicenter observational study were 1133 patients with OSA who were newly diagnosed and implemented CPAP. Ward's method of cluster analysis was applied to in-laboratory diagnostic PSG parameters and patient characteristics. CPAP adherence was assessed during 90- and 365-day periods after CPAP initiation in each cluster. We adopted the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services criterion for CPAP adherence, i.e., CPAP use ≥4 h per night for 70 % or more of the observation period. Logistic regression analysis was performed to stratify clusters according to CPAP adherence.

RESULTS

Five clusters were identified through cluster analysis. Clustering was significantly associated with CPAP adherence at 90- and 365-day periods after CPAP initiation. Logistic regression revealed that the cluster with features including apnea predominant sleep-disordered breathing, high apnea-hypopnea index, and relatively older age demonstrated the highest CPAP adherence.

CONCLUSION

Cluster analysis revealed hidden connections using patient characteristics and PSG parameters to successfully identify patients more likely to adhere to CPAP for 90 days and up to 365 days. When prescribing CPAP, it is possible to identify patients with OSA who are more likely to be non-adherent.

Adherence to continuous positive airway pressure treatment in a cohort of elderly adults with newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea

PURPOSE

To evaluate adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in elderly patients newly diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

METHODS

Consecutive patients ≥ 70 years attending one of the participating centers, requiring CPAP treatment and agreeing to participate, were included. Mean hours of CPAP during the first 5 months of treatment defined adherence as CPAP ≥ 4 h/day on 70% of nights over a 30-day period.

RESULTS

From January 2014 to April 2019, 262 patients aged between 76.7 and 87.7 years (mean age, 82.6 years) were included and fully evaluated; 224 (85.5%) were adherent. Mean adherence time was 6.9 h in adherent patients, vs 2 h in non-adherent patients (p < 0.0001). Compared to non-adherent patients, adherent patients tended to have higher baseline AHI without reaching statistical significance (44.7 vs 39.5, p = 0.0913). They less frequently presented with dementia (3.7% vs 21.6%, p < 0.0001). The somnolence (ODSI and Epworth), nocturia, and depression (QD2A) scores of adherent patients improved significantly from baseline to the fifth month: ODSI decreased from 7 to 3.7 (p < 0.0001), Epworth from 8.7 to 6.2 (p < 0.0001), nocturia from 6.6 to 4.1 (p = 0.0015), and QD2A from 3.7 to 3 (p = 0.0025). Many more patients in the non-adherent group used nasal plugs than in the adherent group (14.7% vs 2.1%, p = 0.0006).

CONCLUSION

The present real-world study showed the ability of newly diagnosed elderly adults (including the very old) to adhere to CPAP therapy and the benefit of 5 months' well-conducted CPAP treatment.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

Not applicable.

Factors associated with treatment outcomes after use of auto-titrating CPAP therapy in adults with obstructive sleep apnea

OBJECTIVES

To determine factors that are associated with OSA therapy outcomes with auto-titrating positive airway pressure (APAP).

METHODS

We sequentially grouped patients from a retrospective cohort based on APAP efficacy (sufficiently vs. insufficiently treated; insufficiently treatment defined as residual AHI of ≥ 5), therapy adherence (adherent vs. non-adherent, non-adherence defined as < 70% usage for ≥ 4 h/night), and therapy outcomes (optimal vs. non-optimal and non-optimal outcomes defined as non-adherent and/or insufficiently treated). We subsequently compared each group.

RESULTS

The insufficiently treated were older (68.4 ± 12.5 vs. 60.4 ± 13.1 years, p < 0.01) and had lower BMI (31.9 ± 6.3 vs. 37.9 ± 9.1 kg/m², p < 0.01). They had higher baseline central apnea indices (CAI), longer leaks, higher peak pressures, and were less compliant. The non-adherent were younger (61.1 ± 12.6 vs. 65.5 ± 13.2 years, p = 0.03) and comprised more females (56.1 vs. 43.9%, p = 0.04). The leak duration per usage hour was higher in the non-compliant (median: 1.5; IQR 7.9 vs. median: 0.3; IQR 1.9 min/h; p < 0.01). The non-optimally treated had lower BMI, longer leaks, and less nightly usage. Multivariate analyses showed that leak duration was the common factor associated with treatment effectiveness and optimal therapy outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Various demographic and clinical factors were associated with treatment efficacy and adherence. However, leak duration was the common factor related to treatment efficacy and overall optimal therapy outcomes.

Sleep Endoscopy with Positive Airway Pressure: A Method for Better Compliance and Individualized Treatment of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

In this study, we aimed to observe the effects of positive airway pressure (PAP) on individual levels of obstruction during drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) of the upper airways (UA), to evaluate at which pressures the obstruction disappeared or worsened, and to identify cases in which PAP was ineffective. This prospective study was conducted from June 2018 to June 2022. PAP testing was performed during DISE in patients with moderate and severe OSA. The pressure was gradually increased over the range from 6.0 to 18.0 hPa. Our findings were evaluated using the VOTE classification. The examination was performed in 56 patients, with a median apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of 26.4. Complete obstruction of the soft palate was observed in 51/56 patients (91%), oropharyngeal obstruction in 15/56 patients (27%), tongue base obstruction in 23/56 patients (41%), and epiglottic collapse in 16/56 patients (29%). PAP was most effective in cases of complete oropharyngeal obstruction, and least effective in cases of epiglottic collapse, where it was ineffective in 11/16 patients. DISE with PAP is a simple diagnostic method that can be helpful for identifying anatomic and dynamic reasons for PAP intolerance. The main indication is ineffective PAP treatment.

Continuous positive airway pressure adherence in people with obstructive sleep apnoea

OBJECTIVES

This cross-sectional study aimed to identify whether five factors of the health belief model were related to continuous positive airway pressure adherence in Thai people with obstructive sleep apnoea.

BACKGROUND

Obstructive sleep apnoea is a disorder impacting health, social wellbeing and the economy. Continuous positive airway pressure is a gold standard of treatment; however, poor adherence to treatment is an important issue that is related to a multiplicity of psychological and behavioural factors.

METHODS

The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for cross-sectional studies was used to report the study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 94 patients newly diagnosed with sleep apnoea and using CPAP devices from a sleep clinic. Participants completed a demographic record, the Thai versions of the Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire, the Perceived Barriers Questionnaire and the Self-Efficacy Measure for Sleep Apnea. CPAP adherence was measured by using information downloaded from the smart card of the devices. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

RESULTS

Only 54.3% of participants adhered to CPAP treatment using standard protocols. Perceived seriousness of their condition was significantly associated with CPAP adherence, whereas perceived susceptibility, benefits, barriers and self-efficacy were not.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a low rate of CPAP adherence among participants. The only factor related to CPAP adherence was perceived seriousness.

RELEVANCE FOR THE CLINICAL PRACTICE

With a low rate of CPAP adherence, healthcare professionals, especially nurses, should encourage patients to use CPAP regularly by providing them with support and education regarding the severity of the disease if untreated and the benefits of CPAP treatment on the disease. Healthcare professionals should be aware of psychological factors impacting patients' perception of sleep apnoea and CPAP treatment. Interventions dealing with these factors should be developed and implemented in practice.

Factors Affecting Long-Term Compliance of CPAP Treatment-A Single Centre Experience

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been the standard treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSA) for almost four decades. Though usually effective, this treatment suffers from poor long-term compliance. Therefore, the aim of our one centre retrospective study was to assess factors responsible for treatment failure and long-term compliance. Four hundred subsequent patients diagnosed with OSA and qualified for CPAP treatment were chosen from our database and compliance data were obtained from medical charts. Many differing factors kept patients from starting CPAP or led to termination of treatment. Overall, almost half of patients ended treatment during the mean time of observation of 3.5 years. Survival analysis revealed that 25% of patients failed at a median time of 38.2 months. From several demographic and clinical covariates in Cox’s hazard model, only the presence of a mild OSA, i.e., AHI (apnoea/hypopnoea index) below 15/h was a factor strongly associated with long term CPAP failure. The compliance results of our study are in line with numerous studies addressing this issue. Contrary to them, some demographic or clinical variables that we used in our survival model were not related to CPAP adherence.