Auto-titrating continuous positive airway pressure for treating adult patients with sleep apnea syndrome

Abstract

The treatment of sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) as the first line of therapy. The current standard is for an attendant technician to titrate CPAP by means of an in-laboratory polysomnography to obtain a fixed single pressure. Over the past decade and a half, some devices able to modify the pressure delivered to the patient overnight and from night to night have become available. The efficacy of such devices to manage SAS has been demonstrated, however the question of their use either as unattended APAP to determine pressures for fixed CPAP or for self-adjusting APAP treatment on a long-term basis is still matter of debate. However, if cost considerations may render reluctant to APAP, off note, using APAP could allow initiation of treatment more quickly, reduce in-laboratory time, and reduce healthcare costs. Auto-titrating continuous positive airway pressure and CPAP are to date equivalent in terms of efficacy to treat SAS, but APAP could allow quick initiation of treatment and therefore reduce healthcare costs.