Türk Uyku Tıbbı Dergisi (Mar 2022)

Factors Affecting Device Adherence of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Normalization Process

  • Esra Aydın Sünbül,
  • Rahşan Karacı,
  • Hüseyin Güleç,
  • Füsun Mayda Domaç

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4274/jtsm.galenos.2021.89421
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 16 – 20

Abstract

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Objective:Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most effective OSAS treatment; however, adherence to CPAP therapy is problematic with psychological symptoms and other sleep disorders. We investigated whether a difference existed between device compatibility of patients with OSAS who applied to the sleep outpatient clinic during the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and normalization process and those who applied during preepidemic period.Materials and Methods:This study was a retrospective study. Patients with OSAS who applied to the sleep disorders center for device control between March 27, 2020 and July 1, 2020 and who used a device for at least one year were included. CPAP adherence time during this period and the same period in 2019 were compared.Results:This study included 190 patients. Regarding the usage times of the device, the average usage time before the pandemic was 5.3±0.6 hours, whereas after the pandemic, it was 4.5±0.9 hours. The device usage time of 54 patients was over four hours before the pandemic; however, it decreased to under four hours after the pandemic. Regarding insomnia, anxiety, and circadian rhythm disorder, there was a significant difference between patients with adequate device use times and patients with inadequate device use times.Conclusion:During the COVID-19 pandemic period, additional sleep disorders, such as insomnia, circadian rhythm disorder, nightmare disorder, and psychological problems, like anxiety symptoms, were expeienced by patients with OSAS. These added sleep and psychological problems affected the device compatibility of patients with OSAS. Knowing the problems that may arise during the COVID-19 pandemic process and conducting studies on these issues will help patients with OSAS, a risky group, improve device compliance.

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