Sex differences regarding the impact of a standardized adaptation session in Colombian patients with obstructive sleep apnea and poor adherence to positive airway pressure devices

Abstract

Introduction: Positive airway pressure (PAP) is the most effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but adherence to this device is poor. The Sleep and Breathing Disorders Clinic of Fundación Neumológica Colombiana (FNC) has a standardized adaptation session (SAS) aimed at patients with difficulties in using PAP devices. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a SAS in short-term adherence to PAP therapy in patients with OSA, and to determine differences by sex. Materials and methods: Before-and-after single cohort study conducted in 40 people aged ≥18 years with an apnea–hypopnea index ≥15/hour and treated at the FNC, Bogotá D.C. (Colombia) between 2015 and 2017, who attended a SAS due to poor adherence to PAP therapy (defined as 4 hours were recorded before and after the intervention to evaluate changes in patients’ adherence. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. The paired samples t-test was used for the comparison of variables before and after the intervention. Results: A significant increase was observed in PAP device use (1.8 hours, 95%CI: 1.3-2.3; p4 hours (35.6%, 95%CI: 26.0-45.3; p4 hours in the study population, particularly in men.

Keywords

• Sleep Apnea
• Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
• Patient Compliance