[Long term use of nCPAP therapy in sleep apnoea patients].
BACKGROUND
Although obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is usually a lifelong condition, little is known about compliance with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) over longer periods of follow up.


METHODS
Long term acceptance of nCPAP was evaluated retrospectively using a survival analysis in 137 consecutive patients who started nCPAP therapy for OSAS between 1985 and 1993.


RESULTS
During a mean follow-up of 9.2 +/- 4.7 years, 30 patients died, 5 were lost of follow-up and 30 patients stopped their treatment most of them during the first 5 years. In compliant patients, the median value of daily nCPAP use was 7.5 hours. Kaplan Meier analysis showed that 82% of patients were still using nCPAP at 5 years, 77% at 10 years and 61% at 15 years. Multivariate analysis showed that OSAS severity was an independent predictor of long-term nCPAP use. The rate of nCPAP acceptance at 10 years was 82% in patients with an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) > or = 30 compared to 58% in patients with AHI < 30.


CONCLUSIONS
nCPAP is a suitable long-term therapy for OSAS, particularly in patients with more severe disease, with more than 80% of patients continuing to be compliant with treatment at 10 years.
Bizieux-Thaminy
A
A
Département de pneumologie, CHU, Angers.
Gagnadoux
F
F
Binquet
C
C
Meslier
N
N
Person
C
C
Racineux
J L
JL
D000368:Aged; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017286:Polysomnography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors