Effect of educational and supportive interventions on positive airway pressure therapy adherence in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

<b>Aim:</b> Long-term adherence to positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is quite low. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of educational and supportive interventions on long-term PAP adherence in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients prescribed PAP treatment. <b>Method:</b> In this prospective study, OSA patients on PAP therapy for 12 months were randomly assigned to usual care (n=50), education (n=56) and support (n=60) groups. The education group was informed about OSA, side effects and benefits of PAP therapy. The support group was given mobile phone number of the doctor, and could contact by phone, text message, or WhatsApp at any time. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 1, 6 and 12 months of PAP treatment, and quality of life and sleepiness was evaluated. <b>Results:</b> In 166 patients on PAP therapy [69% males, mean age 56±11 yrs, body mass index 32±5 kg/m2, AHI 45±25/h], overall PAP usage was 6 days/week and 5.3 hours/night, and there was no difference between groups (p&gt;0.05) (Figure 1-2). Long-term PAP adherence was also similar in usual care, education and support groups (80%, 79% and 68%, respectively, p&gt;0.05). Daytime sleepiness and quality of life improved in all groups (p&lt;0.001) but no significant difference was observed between groups (p&gt;0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> We conclude that following up OSA patients routinely improves PAP adherence, as well as quality of life and daytime sleepiness. However, educational and supportive interventions show no additional effect on long-term PAP adherence compared to usual care.