[Nasal resistance and continuous positive airway pressure treatment for sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relation between nasal resistance and tolerance and compliance with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (SAHS).


METHODS
One hundred twenty-five patients with a mean apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) of 53 21 were assessed for nasal resistance by active anterior rhinometry before starting CPAP treatment. Airflow (cm3/s) at 150 Pa was measured at each nostril. Tolerance for and compliance with CPAP was assessed at 2 weeks, 6 months and one year after start of treatment.


RESULTS
The mean CPAP prescribed was 9 2 cmH2O. Rhinometry findings were considered pathological for 70 patients (56%). We observed no correlation between nasal flow and the CPAP established (r = 0.018). The treatment compliance objective in the first year was 5 1.5 hours/day. The most common nasal side effects during this period were runny nose, itching and sneezing (24%), oronasal dryness (21%) and subjective nasal obstruction (6%). There were no significant differences in tolerance of or compliance with CPAP treatment between patients with normal or abnormal rhinometry.


CONCLUSIONS
Nasal resistance assessed by anterior rhinometry is unrelated to optimum CPAP and does not affect either tolerance or compliance among patients with SAHS.
Tárrega
J
J
Departamento de Neumología. Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau. Barcelona. Spain.
Mayos
M
M
Montserrat
J R
JR
Fabra
J M
JM
Morante
F
F
Cáliz
A
A
Sanchis
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000403:Airway Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017286:Polysomnography; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors