PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Valentina Isetta
AU  - Miguel A. Negrín
AU  - Carmen Monasterio
AU  - Juan F. Masa
AU  - Nuria Feu
AU  - Ainhoa Álvarez
AU  - Francisco Campos-Rodriguez
AU  - Concepción Ruiz
AU  - Jorge Abad
AU  - Ramon Farré
AU  - Marina Galdeano
AU  - Patricia Lloberes
AU  - Cristina Embid
AU  - Mónica De la Peña
AU  - Javier Puertas
AU  - Mireia Dalmases
AU  - Josep M. Montserrat
TI  - A bayesian cost-effectiveness analysis of a telemedicine-based strategy for the management of sleep apnea: A multicenter randomized controlled trial
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA3376
DP  - 2015 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - PA3376
VI  - 46
IP  - suppl 59
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA3376.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA3376.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2015 Sep 01; 46
AB  - Background: Compliance with CPAP therapy is essential in patients with OSA but an adequate control is not always possible. This is of clinical importance as CPAP reverses OSA morbidity and mortality. Alternative and more cost-effective approaches are needed. A telemedicine-based strategy could be of great interest.Methods: One hundred thirty nine patients were randomized in a controlled trial that was performed to compare a telemedicine-based strategy for CPAP follow-up (patients' support based on a web platform support and videoconferences) with the standard face-to-face control. Main outcomes were CPAP compliance and cost-effectiveness (Bayesian analysis). Secondary outcomes: Quality of life (QoL), satisfaction and secondary effects questionaries.Results: At six months, similar levels of CPAP compliance, improvement in sleepiness, QoL, side effects and degree of satisfaction were found in both groups. Despite observing more extra visits, the telemedicine group was more cost-effective: costs were lower and difference in effectiveness was not relevant.Discussion: A telemedicine-based strategy for the follow-up of OSA patients under CPAP treatment proved to be as effective as the standard hospital-based care in terms of CPAP compliance and improvement. Cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the telemedicine-based strategy presented lower total costs due to savings on transport and indirect costs of productivity losses.Funding: Supported by SEPAR/FIS PI14/00416. Supported in part by grant ECO2013-47092 (MINECO, Spain).