Monitoring Seasonal Compliance of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Using CPAP Systems via SD Card

• Published in: Acta informatica medica Vol. 31; no. 2; pp. 96 - 101
• Main Authors: Karagiannis, Athanasios, Tzitiridou, Maria, Kafkia, Theodora, Kourakos, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sarajevo Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina 01.06.2023; Academy of Medical sciences
• Subjects: Bedding; Consent; Continuous positive airway pressure; Demographics; Masks; Observational studies; Original Paper; Patients; Quality of life; Regression analysis; Sleep apnea; Statistical analysis; Summer; Winter; Greece
• ISSN: 0353-8109; 1986-5988
• DOI: 10.5455/aim.2023.31.96-101

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder characterized by recurrent upper airway collapse during sleep, leading to neurological and cardiovascular adverse effects. Objective: The present study aimed to explore seasonal compliance with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy among OSA patients in Greece. Methods: Data from 954 OSA patients using CPAP devices were collected during summer and winter months. Factors evaluated included the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), mask type, mask leaks, and hours of CPAP device usage. Results: The majority of patients were male (78.2%) and aged 60 years or above (58.5%). Most patients had been using CPAP for over 2 years (82.8%), with auto CPAP devices and nasal or pillow masks being most common. Compliance was observed in 57.7% of patients, while 22.1% were non-compliant. A significant number of patients (8.2% and 12%) were compliant only in summer or winter, respectively. Compliance was influenced by duration of CPAP use, BMI up to 25, and the use of nasal/pillow masks. Higher compliance was associated with lower summer severity and both low and severe winter severity. Logistic regression analysis confirmed these findings. Conclusion: The findings suggest that utilizing CPAP device data can provide actionable insights on seasonal compliance among OSA patients. Summer compliance is lower, and the use of nasal/pillow masks and auto CPAP devices is recommended for improved compliance.