• Mario Francesco Damiani, Onofrio Resta, Vitaliano Nicola Quaranta, Vito Antonio Falcone, Capozzolo Alberto, and Alberto Capozzolo.
• Institute of Respiratory Disease, Università Degli Studi di Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
• Respir Care. 2014 Feb 1;59(2):193-8.

BackgroundCPAP is currently the treatment of choice for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, but therapy adherence is poor. Many educational trials have been proposed to increase CPAP adherence. We tested the hypothesis that polysomnograph chart viewing by patients would improve CPAP adherence.MethodsA controlled parallel group study was performed with 206 newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients, randomized into 2 groups (n = 103 each): standard support group, and educational support group. Each educational support group subject viewed 2 consecutive polysomnograms on the computer screen: the first recorded during a standard diagnostic overnight polysomnography, and the second during a full-night polysomnography with nasal CPAP. The subject's attention was drawn only to the flow and oxyhemoglobin saturation curves. Clinical outcomes were assessed via polysomnography at CPAP initiation and after 1, 3, and 12 months.ResultsAfter 12 months of CPAP, 76% of the educational support group and 52% of the standard support group returned for a follow-up visit (P < .001). Statistical significance had already been reached after 1 and 3 months. Moreover, CPAP use (measured as hours of use per night) was higher in the educational support group at each control visit.ConclusionsPolysomnograph chart viewing by obstructive sleep apnea patients can increase CPAP adherence, as evaluated by rate of return for the follow-up visit and mean nightly CPAP use.

19 keywords...

hide…