Extended Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Proactive FOT-based Auto-CPAP Algorithm

Extended Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Proactive FOT-based Auto-CPAP Algorithm in Patients With Predominantly Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This study implements an extended (post marked) examination of the efficacy of a proactive auto-CPAP algorithm, which is based on the forced oscillation technique (FOT) in a sample of patients with predominantly obstructive sleep apnea. The auto-CPAP algorithm examined in this study is implemented in the medical devices prisma20A and prismaLAB (Löwenstein Medical Technology).

Patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and who comply with inclusion criteria of the study will be informed about the possibility of participation. Following informed and written consent, participants will undergo a PSG-diagnostic night according to clinical routine, followed by an auto-CPAP treatment night with a prismaLINE device (prismaLAB or prisma20A). The device settings applied in the treatment night are defined by the study protocol (see interventions). Following the auto-CPAP treatment night, study participation is completed. Any following treatment and patient care is administered according to clinical routine.

Primary and secondary outcome measures of sleep stage and respiratory event indices are evaluated at diagnostic night and auto-CPAP treatment night.

The enrollment consists of two phases. During phase 1 (training phase) 10 participants are enrolled and complete the study protocol. Phase 1 serves as a training phase to establish a common standard of data quality and acquisition. Data of the training phase are not included in the statistical analysis. Following the training phase the efficacy of the auto-CPAP algorithm is evaluated in a sample of 70 participants.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) > 15,0 (n/h Total Sleep Time)
• Initial diagnosis of predominant obstructive sleep apnea (percentage of central respiratory events < 20 %)
• informed written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• missing informed written consent
• Participation in another clinical trial that influences the initiation of auto-CPAP treatment by specifications of device settings or titration procedure
• acute cardiac decompensation
• severe arrhythmia
• severe hypotension, particularly in combination with intravascular volume depletion
• severe epistaxis
• high risk of barotrauma
• decompensated pulmonary conditions
• pneumothorax or pneumomediastinum
• pneumocephalus
• cranial trauma
• status following brain surgery or surgical intervention on the pituitary gland or the middle/inner ear
• acute sinus infection (sinusitis), middle ear infection (otitis media) or perforated eardrum
• dehydration

Exclusion Criteria Statistical Evaluation:

Data of patients who completed the study protocol will be excluded from statistical analysis if one of the following criteria applies:

• non adherence to in-/exclusion criteria
• AHI <= 15,0 (n/h TST) or percentage of central respiratory events >= 20% in the second, study specific PSG-diagnostic night
• application of incorrect device settings
• insufficient data quality of PSG-acquisition
• the device was applied outside range of indication
• data of diagnostic night are not acquired as a PSG
• total time of softSTART duration exceeded 60 min
• the auto-CPAP device was restarted >= 3 times during the treatment night. Recurrent reductions of device therapy pressure to start level (device restarts) which are applied within a time frame of <= 5 minutes after another restart will be assigned to previous restart und therefore numbered as one. Restarts which take place before initial falling asleep will not be numbered.
• the application time of the auto-CPAP device was <6h during treatment night