Abstract 11028: Positive Airway Pressure Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction - Implications for Healthcare Resource Utilization

Abstract

Introduction: Heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) frequently have co-morbid obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), although the impact of OSA treatment remains unclear in this patient population. We assessed the association between adherence to positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy and healthcare resource utilization in patients with OSA and HFpEF. Methods: Administrative insurance claims data linked with objective PAP therapy usage data from patients with OSA and HFpEF were used to measure the association of PAP adherence and healthcare resource utilization, defined by hospitalizations and emergency room (ER) visits. US Medicare defines PAP compliance as use for at least 4 hours/night for 70% of nights in a consecutive 30-day period over 90 days. PAP adherent patients met this criteria for all 4 90-day periods, while PAP non-adherent patients did not meet this criteria for any 90-day period over one year. Propensity score methods were used to create well matched groups with differing PAP adherence levels. Results: The study cohort consisted of 4,237 eligible patients (54.0% female, mean age 64.1 years), of whom 40% were considered adherent to PAP therapy (30% intermediate-adherent, 30% non-adherent). After propensity score matching on prior year covariates, during the year after PAP prescription, PAP adherent patients had fewer hospital visits than non-adherent patients, with a 57% reduction in hospitalizations and a 36% reduction in ER visits for PAP adherent patients (Table 1a). These results remained consistent with inverse probability weighting, and furthermore showed a significant difference in hospitalizations between intermediate-adherent and non-adherent patients, but no significant difference in ER visits (Table 1b). Conclusions: Treating OSA with PAP therapy in patients with HFpEF is associated with a reduction in hospitalizations and ER visits. Adherence to PAP therapy is required to realize these clinical benefits.