Although positive airway pressure (PAP) is a highly effective treatment for sleep apnea, adherence to therapy remains an obstacle. Automated Graduated CPAP (AGPAP), also know as EZ-start, is an extended duration ramp, where the patient receives pressure below their prescription during an acclimation phase. The algorithm gradually increases pressure to therapy level based on usage. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the AGPAP acclimation period and its impact on short term adherence.
Even though CPAP is highly effective in treating sleep apnea, adherence to CPAP therapy remains the largest single obstacle to the successful resolution of sleep-disordered breathing in OSA patients. It has been estimated that up to 50% of patients who have been prescribed CPAP for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are not using the treatment one year later. A myriad of possible causes for low compliance rates have been proposed and examined in previous studies. These include race, gender, education level, income, bed-partner's sleep quality, mask discomfort, continuity of care, nasal irritation, discomfort due to elevated expiratory pressure, and level of daytime sleepiness. Therefore, many investigators have proposed new methods and approaches to help deal with these problems. Interventions have ranged from people-centric approaches using intensive CPAP education and follow-up programs, to device modifications using features such as a ramp, C-FLEX®, BiLevel therapy, and heated humidification. In this study. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Automated Graduated CPAP (AGPAP), also know as EZ-start acclimation period, and its impact on short term adherence
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
241
Standard CPAP
Modified device -Software upgrade to GP 12
Delta Waves Sleep Disorder and Research Center
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Sleep Disorders Center of Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Clayton Sleep Institute
St Louis, Missouri, United States
Clinilabs, Inc.
New York, New York, United States
CPAP Adherence
Device usage (hours per night)
Time frame: 3 months
Functional Outcome Sleep Quality (FOSQ)
Functional Outcomes Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ) is a self-administered instrument designed to assess the impact of excessive sleepiness on daytime function and to quantify improvement after treatment. It contains 30 items divided into 5 subscales: Activity level, vigilance, intimacy and sexual relationships, general productivity, and social outcome. The patient rates the difficulty of performing a given activity on a 4-point scale (no difficulty to extreme difficulty) A mean score is calculated for each scale ranging from 0 (maximum functional impact) to 24 (no functional impact).
Time frame: 3 months
Daytime Sleepiness as Measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is a self-administered questionnaire with 8 questions. Respondents are asked to rate, on a 4-point scale (0-3), their usual chances of dozing off or falling asleep while engaged in eight different activities. The ESS score can range from 0 to 24. The higher the ESS score, the higher is the overall 'daytime sleepiness'.
Time frame: 3 months
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Sleep Therapy and Research Center
San Antonio, Texas, United States