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

¹ Klinik Ambrock, Hagen, University of Witten-Herdecke

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: nilius{at}klinik-ambrock.de.

	Abstract

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 randomized, controlled crossover trial involving 19 patients with a first-ever diagnosis of OSAS measured the effect of conventional heated humidification added to CPAP compared to a controlled heated breathing tube humidifier (ThermoSmart®) 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, (p=0.0001)) in the delivery system, the TST, S3/4 and REM sleep phases were significantly longer and the overall side effect score was lower than with conventional heated humidification.

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