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Impact of a controlled heated breathing tube humidifier on sleep quality during CPAP therapy in a cool sleeping environment

Klinik Ambrock, University of Witten-Herdecke, Hagen, Germany.

CORRESPONDENCE: G. Nilius, Klinik Ambrock, 58091 Hagen, Germany. Fax: 49 2331974209. E-mail: nilius{at}klinik-ambrock.de

Keywords: Continuous positive airway pressure, heated humidification, obstructive sleep apnoea, side-effects

Received: December 11, 2006
Accepted November 27, 2007

There are conflicting data on the effect of adding a heated humidifier to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). The effects of heated humidification on sleep quality and treatment side-effects for patients who prefer a cold bedroom environment have not been studied.

A randomised, controlled crossover trial involving 19 patients with a first-ever diagnosis of OSAS measured the effect of conventional heated humidification added to CPAP compared with a controlled heated breathing tube humidifier (ThermoSmart®; Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, Auckland, New Zealand) on sleep quality.

During the night in the sleep laboratory at a mean room temperature of 14°C, less condensation formed with the controlled heated breathing tube humidifier (1.9 mL versus 35.3 mL) in the delivery system. In addition, the total sleep time, time spent in sleep stages 3 and 4, and rapid eye movement sleep phases were significantly longer and the overall side-effect score was lower than with conventional heated humidification.

Patients on nasal continuous positive airway pressure desiring a cool bedroom temperature could benefit from controlled heated breathing tube humidification technology (with inputs from ambient temperature, set pressure and flow).