Adverse effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure therapy in sleep apnoea syndrome.
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is now the treatment of choice for patients with sleep apnoea syndrome. Side-effects and adverse reactions have been described in isolated reports with this device. We have, therefore, systematically studied the side-effects of nCPAP therapy in 300 consecutive patients referred to the London Chest Hospital Ventilatory Support Unit. Ninety-six per cent of patients complained of at least one side-effect resulting from the therapy, with 45 per cent complaining of a side-effect specific to the nasal mask. There was no correlation between the side-effects and level of pressure used during nCPAP. The rate of compliance remained high in spite of the side-effects, with a daily use of 7.8 hours (SD 8.05) and with 83 per cent of the patients using the device every night. Although nCPAP treatment remains acceptable to most patients there exists a high incidence of adverse effects.
Kalan
A
A
Department of Otolaryngology, St. Bartholomew's and Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, UK. ak@kalan1.demon.co.uk
Kenyon
G S
GS
Seemungal
T A
TA
Wedzicha
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D012826:Silicone Elastomers / Q000009:adverse effects; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012912:Sneezing; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000209:etiology
D012826:Silicone Elastomers