@article {Meshkatp3923, author = {Miena Meshkat and Julia Ebner and Otto Burghuber and Arschang Valipour}, title = {Treatment adherence with CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea is influenced by mask leak}, volume = {38}, number = {Suppl 55}, elocation-id = {p3923}, year = {2011}, publisher = {European Respiratory Society}, abstract = {Aims: To investigate the effect of mask leak on adherence with CPAP therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).Methods: We studied 63 patients (mean Age 55{\textpm}11yrs, mean BMI 36{\textpm}7kg/sqm, mean AHI 48{\textpm}30/hr, ESS 11{\textpm}5) who received fixed or auto-adjusted CPAP treatment for OSAS at our institution. All patients underwent a standardized educational session and mask fitting by experienced staff. Data on treatment adherence and mask leakage was collected for approximately 6 months after initiation of CPAP.Results: Mean {\textpm} standard deviation days of CPAP use was 176{\textpm}82 days, percentage of days with CPAP usage 84{\textpm}18\%, and percentage of days with at least 4 hours CPAP use/night 71{\textpm}24\%. There was a significant inverse relationship between CPAP adherence using Kribbs criteria and average time spent with mask leak per night (r =-0.362, p\<0.01). Patients with good adherence (n = 42), defined as CPAP use \> 4 hours per night on at least 5 days per week, were compared with those who used their device less frequently (n = 21). There were no significant differences between baseline characteristics, residual AHI or therapeutic CPAP pressure between groups. Patients with poor CPAP adherence, however, had significantly higher average mask leakage flow (39{\textpm}8 litres/min vs. 34{\textpm}6 litres/min, p \< 0.01) and higher time spent with mask leakage per night (3.7{\textpm}6 min/night vs. 7.7{\textpm}10 min/night, p \< 0.05) than those with good adherence.Conclusion: Mask leakage may influence treatment adherence with CPAP for OSAS.}, issn = {0903-1936}, URL = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3923}, eprint = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content}, journal = {European Respiratory Journal} }