Long-term treatment of sleep apnea in persons with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
Although numerous studies have documented a high prevalence of sleep apnea in persons with spinal cord injury, relatively little has been published regarding treatment of sleep apnea in this population. The purpose of this study was to describe long-term treatment outcomes and side effects of sleep apnea treatment in persons with spinal cord injury.


METHODS
Descriptive, postal mail survey to spinal cord injury individuals with sleep apnea followed by a Veterans Affairs Spinal Cord Injury Service.


RESULTS
The response rate to the mailed survey was 54%, with complete surveys obtained from 40 individuals with spinal cord injury and sleep apnea. The majority of participants (93%) had been diagnosed with sleep apnea through routine clinical care, and patients had been diagnosed a mean of 4 yrs earlier. Continuous positive airway pressure was the most commonly used treatment. Continuous positive airway pressure was tried by 80% of patients, and of these, 63% continued to use continuous positive airway pressure, with mean usage 6.5 nights per week and 6.9 hrs per night. Continuous positive airway pressure was rated as beneficial in comparison with its side effects. The most common side effects were nasal congestion and mask discomfort.


CONCLUSIONS
Many spinal cord injury individuals with sleep apnea become long-term users of continuous positive airway pressure and perceive a subjective benefit from the treatment.
Burns
Stephen P
SP
VA Puget Sound Health Care System Spinal Cord Injury Service, Seattle, Washington 98108, USA.
Rad
Mohammad Yavari
MY
Bryant
Stacey
S
Kapur
Vishesh
V
D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*