LONG-TERM COMPLIANCE WITH NASAL CPAP TREA TMENT FOR OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA - PROSPECTIVE-STUDY IN 50 PATIENTS

In a prospective study between 1989 and 1993, 50 patients (45 males, 5 females, mean age: 58.4 years; mean AHI = 37.8/h) suffering from obst ructive sleep apnoea were examined. They underwent nocturnal polysomno graphy and were provided nightly treatment with nasal CPAP (Respironic s Sleep-Easy III und REMSTAR, Respironics Inc, Monroeville, PA). 41 pa tients were given primary treatment with nCPAP. Nine patients were sec ondarily treated with a nCPAP mask after other modalities of therapy ( weight reduction, mandibular positioning appliance, nasal surgery, uvu lopalatopharyngoplasty) had been applied without success. All patients were controlled in the sleep laboratory nine to fourty-two months (me an: 18 months) after the masks were fitted. A questionnaire was used t o evaluate subjective complaints, use of the CPAP mask, technical prob lems, partner's acceptance of the mask etc. 46 patients wore the mask on an average of 6.2 nights per week and 6.5 hours per night. These se lf-reported data from the questionnaire correlated only in 85 per cent of the cases with the data provided by the time clock installed in th e CPAP machine. The long-term compliance with nCPAP of the studied gro up was 92 per cent. Four patients returned their masks within two mont hs. It was possible to provide sufficient respiration to more than 90% of the patients using an average pressure between 7 and 8 cm water co lumn. Respiration presented no problems for all six patients who had p reviously been treated with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in our hospital. Despite the mask 41 patients slept with their partner in a common roo m.