Intensive Versus Standard Follow up to Improve Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Compliance

Intensive Versus Standard Follow up to Improve Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Compliance: The Greek Experience

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects on sleepiness, quality of life, depression, hospitalization and deaths rate, of intensive vs standard interventions, on CPAP adherence, 2 years after CPAP initiation.

There is limited data concerning long-term randomized clinical trials proving the long-term efficacy of intensive use, follow programs on improving CPAP use. Therefore the investigators aimed to compare the effects on sleepiness, quality of life, depression, hospitalization and deaths rate, of intensive vs standard interventions, on CPAP adherence, 2 years after CPAP initiation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea syndrome by polysomnography according to standard criteria,
• with moderate to severe sleep apnea,
• no history of previously CPAP therapy and
• with an above-elementary school education.

Exclusion Criteria:

• refusal to participate,
• refusal to CPAP therapy,
• previous CPAP treatment,
• central sleep apnoea syndrome,
• Cheyne-stokes breathing pattern,
• obesity hypoventilation syndrome,
• restrictive ventilator syndromes,
• congestive heart failure,
• history of life-threatening arrhythmias,
• cardiomyopathy,
• long term oxygen therapy,
• family or personal history of mental illness,
• with drug or alcohol abuse,
• severe cognitive impairment,
• concurrent oncologic diseases and
• history of narcolepsy.