[Diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome: the situation in Navarra (Spain)].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in Navarra (Spain) and to know the characteristics of patients treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (n-CPAP) in our community.


METHODS
All patients receiving nasal n-CPAP from the public health service of Navarra in July 2000 were enrolled. A nurse visited each patient and filled in a form with epidemiological data, and patient and clinical characteristics. The nurse then measured CO in expired air and the n-CPAP pressure used and recorded the hour counter reading on the n-CPAP device. Between one and two months later and without prior warning, the patient was once again contacted and a second visit was made. The counter was read again and expired CO was measured.


RESULTS
The prevalence of treatment with n-CPAP in Navarra was 125/100,000 inhabitants, and a gradual increase in annual prescriptions was observed. Home visits were made to 535 patients (80.7% of the total). Pneumologists wrote 83.5% of the prescriptions. n-CPAP was used a mean 6.1 hours/day, and the numbers of declared and real hours of use were statistically correlated. The mean apnea-hypopnea index was 51.5, although results were not available for 4.2% of the patients. The treatment was well tolerated according to 83.7% of the patients and 24.8% had been following it for over four years. The pathology most often associated with OSAHS was obesity (73.4% of the patients), followed by high blood pressure (40%); 299 patients (55.8%) had two or more associated diseases and 54 (9.7%) had none. Conventional polysomnography was the diagnostic method used in 45.9% of the cases, and respiratory polygraphs were available for 49.7%. Pressure was adjusted with the aid of polysomnography for 19.4% patients, whereas 32.1% had undergone no testing. Side effects of treatment were reported by 50.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
a) The prevalence of n-CPAP treatment in Navarra is high and prescriptions are increasing; b) patient tolerance of and compliance with therapy are good, c) polysomnographs or respiratory polygraphs are available for diagnosis of OSAHS in most cases but the n-CPAP pressure level is adjusted without the recommended studies for many patients.
Hueto
J
J
Sección de Neumología. Hospital Virgen del Camino. Pamplona. Navarra. España. jhuetope@cfnavarra.es
Boldú
J
J
Cebollero
P
P
Cascante
J A
JA
Abu-Shams
J
J
Eguía
V M
VM
Esandi
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires