Long-Term Adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Set Up in a Complete Remote Pathway: A Single-Centre Service Evaluation Project.

Abstract

Background: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). Maintaining adherence to CPAP in the long term is a clinical problem, and numerous factors have been identified that impact adherence. Although fully remote diagnostic and CPAP services were frequently utilised during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients with OSA, long-term adherence data have not been published. The aim of this service evaluation project was to describe the long-term adherence to CPAP. We also analysed factors that are associated with it. Methods: two-hundred and eighty patients diagnosed with OSA and set up on CPAP remotely during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic as part of routine clinical practice were analysed. Results: One-hundred and seven patients (38%) were fully adherent to CPAP at 24 months, determined by at least 4 h of usage on at least 70% of the days. Of the factors analysed, body mass index, disease severity, driving status and the presence of depression were related to long-term adherence (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: with the likelihood of future pandemics similar to COVID-19, our data provide evidence that fully remote pathways for management of patients with OSA can be designed and be sustainable with good long-term adherence.