Barriers to acceptance and adherence to continuous positive airway pressure therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a report from Kermanshah province, western Iran

Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea with a simple CPAP device

PURPOSE

CPAP is the "gold standard" treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Current CPAP models have developed additional functions including automatic CPAP and pressure relief. However, CPAP adherence has not improved over the last three decades. Many patients in low-income countries cannot afford these CPAP devices. A novel simple CPAP device with a fixed pressure without pressure controller was developed.

METHODS

Manual CPAP pressure titration was performed in 127 patients with OSA. Six patients with a titration pressure higher than 11 cmH2O and 14 patients who could not tolerate CPAP were excluded, leaving 107 participating in the following 2 studies. In study one, 54 of 107 patients were treated by both conventional fixed CPAP and simple CPAP in random order. In the second study, another 53 patients were treated by both autoCPAP in automatic function and simple CPAP in random order. Simple CPAP was fixed at 10 cmH2O, 8 cmH2O, and 6 cmH2O for patients whose titration pressure was between 9-10, 7-8, and ≤ 6 cmH2O, respectively. Conventional fixed CPAP device was set exactly the same as manual titration pressure.

RESULTS

All patients whose manual titration pressure ≤ 10 cmH2O were effectively treated by simple CPAP (AHI 40.7 ± 2.3 events/h before vs 2.5 ± 0.3 events/h after, p < 0.001). Patients expressed similar preferences for simple CPAP, autoCPAP, and conventional fixed CPAP (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that a novel simple CPAP is an alternative treatment for most patients with OSA, which may widen access to CPAP therapy in the developing countries because of its low cost.

Efficacy and safety of liraglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and severe obstructive sleep apnea

OBJECTIVES

To observe the efficacy and side effects of liraglutide in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

METHODS

The study conducted in an outpatient setting was a two-center, prospective randomized controlled study. T2DM patients with severe OSA were randomized to the control group (continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP] and drug treatment without liraglutide) or the liraglutide group (CPAP and drug treatment including liraglutide). Demographic and clinical characteristics, sleep-disordered breathing indices, cardiac function indices, and side effects were evaluated and compared between the two groups before and after 3 months.

RESULTS

Of 90 patients, 45 were randomized to the intervention arm (with liraglutide) and 45 to the control arm (without liraglutide). One patient in the liraglutide group dropped out of the study on day 8 after enrollment due to obvious gastrointestinal symptoms. No significant differences were found between the two groups in baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, cardiac function indicators, or sleep disorder respiratory indices (P > 0.05). After 3 months, the body mass index (BMI), apnea hypopnea index (AHI), and mean systolic blood pressure in the liraglutide treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The minimum oxygen saturation was significantly higher in the liraglutide group compared with that in the control group after 3 months of follow-up (P < 0.05). No difference was found between the two groups in the summary of side effects (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Liraglutide combined with CPAP can effectively reduce BMI, lower mean systolic blood pressure, and improve AHI scores and hypoxia in T2DM patients with severe OSA. Liraglutide did not increase side effects.

Predictive factors of adherence in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy in Romania

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a very frequent and underdiagnosed pathology with important social and economic implications. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard for the treatment of OSAS, but adherence is low, with multiple factors being involved in this phenomenon. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the causes of low adherence to CPAP among adults with OSAS and patients' symptoms. Materials and methods: We performed a prospective cohort study which included 95 patients admitted to Rosiori de Vede Pneumology Hospital, who were diagnosed with OSAS between January 2021-January 2023 and had indication to receive CPAP. Patients were divided into two groups (adherents and non-adherents) and were evaluated for one year based on completing a questionnaire and downloading data from the compliance card of CPAP on their regular visits at one month, six months and 12 months after diagnosis. Results:The predictive factors identified for non-adherence included oro-nasal mask use, low OSAS severity, low level of education, type D personality, high level of daytime sleepiness, and the first period of time with CPAP. Conclusion:Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a frequent and underdiagnosed pathology which benefits from CPAP as the gold standard treatment option. Although therapeutic results are favourable and effects are rapidly observed in symptomatic moderate-severe OSA, adherence to therapy remains low.

Marketing factors associated with a continuous positive airway pressure machine purchasing in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Aim: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related with several cardiovascular diseases. It should be treated with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine. There is limited data on marketing factors on a decision of CPAP machine purchasing in OSA patients. Materials & methods: We enrolled adult patients aged over 18 years with OSA who tried a CPAP. Marketing factors were evaluated for a decision of CPAP machine purchasing. Results: There were 95 OSA patients participated in the study. Nice color CPAP machine and good knowledge and informative salesperson had adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 4.480 and 9.478, the other two factors had aOR at 0.102 and 0.217. Conclusion: Marketing factors related to CPAP machine purchasing in patients with OSA.

A telemonitoring system to support CPAP therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a participatory approach in analysis, design, and evaluation

Background

Continues positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a gold standard treatment for moderate to severe cases of OSA (obstructive sleep apnea). The present research aimed to describe the analysis, design, and evaluation of a telemonitoring system to improve CPAP adherence in patients afflicted with OSA.

Methods

The telemonitoring system was developed in five phases. In the exploratory phase, the body of related literature was reviewed. Then a need analysis was conducted through a focus group discussion with sleep medicine specialists and sales company representatives and an interview with patients. The third phase involved data integration. Then the content and system development were done based on the previous phases. Finally, usability and functionality tests were used to evaluate the system.

Results

The exploratory phase and the needs analysis were conducted by four sleep medicine specialists, two medical informatics specialists, six key figures of the sales companies, two system developers, and 46 patients in different phases. Based on the results obtained from the data integration phase, the telemonitoring system involved three main parts: a patient’s application, a doctor’s portal, a selling companies’ portal (operator’s portal) along with facilitating software for patients to send the CPAP data. Usability and functionality tests were given to 7 and 10 patients, respectively. The total number of usability issues reported by users in the evaluation process was 18, with an average of 2.5 issues per user. The installation problems, disrupted links and improper playing of videos were the main functionalities problems that were solved.

Conclusion

The telemonitoring system, as a means of communication between patients, doctors, and selling companies, can be used to support patients clinically and technically. It has the potential to improve CPAP adherence in patients with OSA.

The association of age with continuous positive airway pressure ventilation acceptance in an outpatient cohort of patients with obstructive sleep apnea

STUDY OBJECTIVES

This study examined the association between age and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) acceptance in a consecutive series of patients with obstructive sleep apnea being managed in a physician-led outpatient CPAP acclimatization program in Canberra, Australia.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective consecutive case series analysis of registry data collected from patients attending the Canberra Hospital PAP Acclimatization Clinic between 2011 and 2019. Data on patient demographics, diagnostic polysomnography results, CPAP device download parameters during acclimatization, and overall CPAP acceptance at the end of acclimatization were extracted from the Clinic Registry. Analysis of variance and chi-square were used to assess for associations between patient age, CPAP acceptance, and other clinical characteristics. Univariate and stepwise multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of CPAP acceptance.

RESULTS

We found that 1,075 consecutive CPAP trials among 1,043 patients were eligible for inclusion. CPAP acceptance was lower in those aged > 75 years compared with those aged ≤ 75 years (odds ratio: 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-0.92; P = .02). Patients aged > 75 years had lower body mass index, had higher initial and final visit 95th percentile mask leak, and were less likely to be CPAP naïve. Using univariate regression, younger age, severe obstructive sleep apnea, obesity, shorter trial duration, more clinic visits, higher initial visit CPAP usage, and lower final visit mask leak were predictors of CPAP acceptance. In a multiple logistic regression model, younger age, severe obstructive sleep apnea, shorter trial duration, more clinic visits, higher first visit usage, and lower final visit leak predicted acceptance.

CONCLUSIONS

Older age is associated with lower CPAP acceptance. The factors contributing to this association are unclear and require further investigation.

CITATION

Han M, Wee R, Shadbolt B, Huang H-CC. The association of age with continuous positive airway pressure ventilation acceptance in an outpatient cohort of patients with obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(1):217-224.

Treatment burden experienced by patients with obstructive sleep apnoea using continuous positive airway pressure therapy

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the treatment burden experienced by patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) who use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy.

PARTICIPANTS

18 patients (33.3% males, mean age 59.7±11.8 years) with OSA who use CPAP therapy were interviewed.

METHODS

Patients treated with CPAP for OSA at a tertiary hospital outpatient clinic in Sydney, Australia, were invited to participate in an interview in person or via phone. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the treatment burden associated with using CPAP. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using NVivo 12 qualitative analysis software.

RESULTS

Four categories of OSA-specific treatment burden were identified: healthcare tasks, consequences of healthcare tasks, exacerbating and alleviating factors of treatment burden. Participants reported a significant burden associated with using CPAP, independently of how frequently they used their device. Common sources of their treatment burden included attending healthcare appointments, the financial cost of treatment, lifestyle changes, treatment-related side effects and general discomfort.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that there is a significant treatment burden associated with the use of CPAP, and that treatment non-adherence is not the only consequence of treatment burden. Other consequences include relationship burden, stigma and financial burden. It is important for physicians to identify other negative impacts of treatment burden in order to optimise the patient experience.

Socioeconomic Factors and Adherence to CPAP: The Population-Based Course of Disease in Patients Reported to the Swedish CPAP Oxygen and Ventilator Registry Study

Background

Early identification of poor adherence to CPAP treatment is of major clinical importance to optimize treatment outcomes in patients with OSA.

Research Question

How do socioeconomic factors influence CPAP adherence?

Study Design and Methods

Nationwide, population-based cohort study of patients with OSA receiving CPAP treatment reported to the Swedish quality registry Swedevox between 2010 and 2018 was cross-linked with individual socioeconomic data from Statistics Sweden. Socioeconomic factors associated with CPAP adherence were identified using a multivariate linear regression model, adjusted for age and sex.

Results

In total, 20,521 patients were included: 70.7% men; mean age ± SD, 57.8 ± 12.2 years; BMI, 32.0 ± 6.1 kg/m²; apnea-hypopnea index, 36.9 ± 22.1; Epworth Sleepiness Scale, 10.4 ± 5.0; and median nocturnal CPAP use, 355 min (interquartile range, 240-420 min). Adherence after 1.3 ± 0.8 years of CPAP use was significantly (all P < .001) associated with civil status (married vs unmarried: +20.5 min/night), education level (high, ≥ 13 years vs low, ≤ 9 years: +13.2 min/night), total household income (highest/third/second vs lowest quartile: +15.9 min/night, +10.4 min/night, and +6.1 min/night, respectively), and country of birth (born in Sweden with one native parent/born in Sweden with two native parents vs being born abroad: +29.0 min/night and +29.3 min/night, respectively).

Interpretation

Civil status, educational level, household income, and foreign background predict CPAP adherence in a clinically significant manner and should be considered when treating OSA with CPAP.

Compared to Individuals with Mild to Moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), Individuals with Severe OSA Had Higher BMI and Respiratory-Disturbance Scores

Objective: Individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk to suffer from further somatic and sleep-related complaints. To assess OSA, demographic, anthropometric, and subjective/objective sleep parameters are taken into consideration, but often separately. Here, we entered demographic, anthropometric, subjective, and objective sleep- and breathing-related dimensions in one model. Methods: We reviewed the demographic, anthropometric, subjective and objective sleep- and breathing-related data, and polysomnographic records of 251 individuals with diagnosed OSA. OSA was considered as a continuous and as categorical variable (mild, moderate, and severe OSA). A series of correlational computations, X²-tests, F-tests, and a multiple regression model were performed to investigate which demographic, anthropometric, and subjective and objective sleep dimensions were associated with and predicted dimensions of OSA. Results: Higher apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) scores were associated with higher BMI, higher daytime sleepiness, a higher respiratory disturbance index, and higher snoring. Compared to individuals with mild to moderate OSA, individuals with severe OSA had a higher BMI, a higher respiratory disturbance index (RDI) and a higher snoring index, while subjective sleep quality and daytime sleepiness did not differ. Results from the multiple regression analysis showed that an objectively shorter sleep duration, more N2 sleep, and a higher RDI predicted AHI scores. Conclusion: The pattern of results suggests that blending demographic, anthropometric, and subjective/objective sleep- and breathing-related data enabled more effective discrimination of individuals at higher risk for OSA. The results are of practical and clinical importance: demographic, anthropometric, and breathing-related issues derived from self-rating scales provide a quick and reliable identification of individuals at risk of OSA; objective assessments provide further certainty and reliability.

Characteristics of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients With Hypertension and Factors Associated With Autotitration Acceptance

In order to explore the characteristics and treatment status of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients with hypertension, a retrospective study was conducted on 306 patients admitted from October 2018 to December 2019. According to the apnea hypopnea index (AHI), OSA patients with hypertension were divided into three groups. 69 cases were mild OSA (5 ≤ AHI < 15), 86 cases were moderate (15 ≤ AHI < 30), and 151 cases were severe (AHI ≥ 30). Compared with patients in the mild and moderate groups, the severe group had more male patients, with higher body mass index (BMI) and non-rapid eye movement stage 1 accounted for total sleep time (N1%), and lower non-rapid eye movement stage 2 accounted for total sleep time (N2%), average and minimum blood oxygen. Among all the patients, those who underwent the titration test accounted for 20.6% (63/306). Multivariate analysis showed that sleep efficiency (p < 0.001) and AHI (p < 0.001) were independent factors for patients to accept titration test. OSA patients with hypertension had a low acceptance of titration therapy. These people with higher sleep efficiency and AHI were more likely to receive autotitration.

Utility of Multi-Theory Model (MTM) to Explain the Intention for PAP Adherence in Newly Diagnosed Sleep Apnea Patients

PURPOSE

The objective of this study was to assess the utility of a fourth-generation multi-theory model (MTM) in explaining the intention for initiation and sustenance of PAP adherence among newly diagnosed sleep apnea patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

For this cross-sectional study, data were collected at a private sleep center located in the Southeastern United States. A total of 138 newly diagnosed patients with sleep apnea who had been prescribed PAP therapy completed a valid and reliable 41-item MTM instrument. Stepwise multiple regression modeling was conducted to assess MTM based explanatory variables of PAP adherence in this study sample.

RESULTS

MTM constructs namely participatory dialogue (β = 0.17, p = 0.014), behavioral confidence (β = 0.48, p < 0.001), and changes in the physical environment (β = 0.26, p = 0.001) were statistically significant predictors of the intention for initiation of PAP therapy and accounted for 53.5% of the variance. Emotional transformation (β = 0.57, p < 0.001), changes in the social environment (β = 0.16, p = 0.016), and practice for change (β = 0.16, p = 0.047) were statistically significant predictors of the intention for sustenance of PAP therapy and accounted for 60.6% of the variance.

CONCLUSION

The MTM was found to be a promising theoretical model in explaining the intention for initiation and sustenance of PAP therapy.

Acceptance of and six-month adherence to continuous positive airway pressure in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea

BACKGROUND

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most effective treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Acceptance of and adherence to CPAP are crucial for optimal treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing patients' acceptance of and adherence to CPAP treatment.

METHODS

One hundred eighty-eight patients with moderate to severe OSA who had received CPAP titration from October 2017 to September 2018 were recruited. They were interviewed at 2 weeks and at 6 months to assess CPAP use and barriers to acceptance and adherence.

RESULTS

One hundred fourteen patients (60.6%) accepted CPAP treatment. Disease severity, assessed by apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (odds ratio [OR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.08), subjective satisfaction of titration (OR, 12.83; 95% CI, 3.83-42.99), initial intention of CPAP therapy (OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.05-10.51) and short-term home CPAP trial (OR, 9.40; 95% CI, 2.85-31.08) were associated with acceptance of CPAP treatment. Two-third of the 98 CPAP acceptors reported good CPAP adherence at 6 months follow-up. Average hours of CPAP use per day for the first 2 weeks (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.28-3.04) and the global problems associated with CPAP use (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.73-0.91) were independent predictors of the six-month CPAP adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly 40% of patients with moderate to severe OSA did not accept CPAP treatment, and one-third of those CPAP acceptors had poor adherence to CPAP treatment. Improvement in disease awareness, comfortable titration experience, short-term home CPAP trial may be of help to increase CPAP acceptance and early experience with CPAP is important for long-term adherence. The differences in predicting factors for CPAP acceptance and adherence highlight the importance of focusing on specific aspects during the whole process management of OSA.

Global burden of sleep-disordered breathing and its implications

One-seventh of the world's adult population, or approximately one billion people, are estimated to have OSA. Over the past four decades, obesity, the main risk factor for OSA, has risen in striking proportion worldwide. In the past 5 years, the WHO estimates global obesity to affect almost two billion adults. A second major risk factor for OSA is advanced age. As the prevalence of the ageing population and obesity increases, the vulnerability towards having OSA increases. In addition to these traditional OSA risk factors, studies of the global population reveal select contributing features and phenotypes, including extreme phenotypes and symptom clusters that deserve further examination. Untreated OSA is associated with significant comorbidities and mortality. These represent a tremendous threat to the individual and global health. Beyond the personal toll, the economic costs of OSA are far-reaching, affecting the individual, family and society directly and indirectly, in terms of productivity and public safety. A better understanding of the pathophysiology, individual and ethnic similarities and differences is needed to better facilitate management of this chronic disease. In some countries, measures of the OSA disease burden are sparse. As the global burden of OSA and its associated comorbidities are projected to further increase, the infrastructure to diagnose and manage OSA will need to adapt. The use of novel approaches (electronic health records and artificial intelligence) to stratify risk, diagnose and affect treatment are necessary. Together, a unified multi-disciplinary, multi-organizational, global approach will be needed to manage this disease.

Predictors of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Adherence in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disease which impacts quality of life, mood, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the first-line treatment for patients with moderate to severe OSA. CPAP ameliorates respiratory disturbances, leading to improvements in daytime sleepiness, quality of life, blood pressure, and cognition. However, despite the high efficacy of this device, CPAP adherence is often sub-optimal. Factors including: socio-demographic/economic characteristics, disease severity, psychological factors, and side-effects are thought to affect CPAP adherence in OSA patients. Intervention studies have suggested that augmented support/education, behavioral therapy, telemedicine and technological interventions may improve CPAP adherence. In this paper, we will extensively review the most common factors including age, gender, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, smoking status, severity of OSA, severity of OSA symptoms, psychological variables, social support, marital status/bed partner involvement, dry nose and mouth, mask leak, and nasal congestion that may predict CPAP adherence. We will also extensively review interventions that may increase adherence to CPAP.