0516 Biopsychosocial intervention using virtual multidisciplinary group with improved PAP adherence after 1 year post intervention

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Prevalence of untreated sleep apnea among veterans is 22.2 %. Untreated patients are at risk for multiple adverse outcomes including chronic sleep deprivation, excessive day time sleepiness, chronic fatigue, depression, and cardiovascular complications including hypertension, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular accidents, pulmonary hypertension as result of increased sympathetic activity during apnea episodes. Nonadherence to PAP therapy within the first week of treatment are up to 50 % of patients who use PAP device during the first week between 12-25 % discontinue by PAP use by year 3. Barriers to PAP use include physical problems with PAP hardware, knowledge gaps, and psychological issues. Methods Veterans from sleep medicine and sleep apnea clinics as well as multiple primary care clinics participated in the PAP adherence group following 6 weeks biopsychosocial model. The intervention included weekly synchronized video encounters of behavior sleep specialist, respiratory therapist and sleep clinic nurse with the targeted group of veterans with sleep apnea and poor PAP adherence. This approach has multiple benefits, including being patient centered, cost effective and efficient with ability to help veterans at various motivational levels, assist 6-10 veterans virtually in 6 one-hour group sessions and easy care coordination. Results A total of 21 veterans with sleep apnea participated in virtual multidisciplinary group to improve PAP adherence between September 2020 and January 2021. Patients PAP adherence before intervention, post intervention and 1year after intervention was evaluated. Percent of patients using PAP >2 hours before intervention was 5 %, immediately after intervention it increased to 20 %, and there was further increase up to 33% after 1 year post. Conclusion A structured multidisciplinary biopsychosocial intervention demonstrated statistically significant improvement in PAP adherence which persisted up till 1 year post intervention. In fact additional improvement of >2 hours of PAP usage was noted in this patient group suggesting possible long term benefit of psychosocial multidisciplinary intervention on PAP adherence. This study also demonstrated efficiency of utilization of virtual/telemedicine platform for psychosocial intervention and brief behavioral therapy. Support (if any)