PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Meshkat, Miena
AU  - Ebner, Julia
AU  - Burghuber, Otto
AU  - Valipour, Arschang
TI  - Treatment adherence with CPAP for obstructive sleep apnea is influenced by mask leak
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p3923
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3923.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3923.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - 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±11yrs, mean BMI 36±7kg/sqm, mean AHI 48±30/hr, ESS 11±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 ± standard deviation days of CPAP use was 176±82 days, percentage of days with CPAP usage 84±18%, and percentage of days with at least 4 hours CPAP use/night 71±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±8 litres/min vs. 34±6 litres/min, p < 0.01) and higher time spent with mask leakage per night (3.7±6 min/night vs. 7.7±10 min/night, p < 0.05) than those with good adherence.Conclusion: Mask leakage may influence treatment adherence with CPAP for OSAS.