Sleep maintenance insomnia complaints predict poor CPAP adherence: A clinical case series.
BACKGROUND
Although CPAP is a highly efficacious treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), low adherence presents a significant challenge for sleep medicine clinicians. The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between insomnia symptoms and CPAP use. We hypothesized that pre-treatment insomnia complaints would be associated with poorer CPAP adherence at clinical follow-up.


METHODS
This was a retrospective chart review of 232 patients (56.5% men, mean age=53.6+/-12.4years) newly diagnosed with OSA (mean AHI=41.8+/-27.7) and prescribed CPAP in the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorder Center. Difficulty initiating sleep, difficulty maintaining sleep, and early morning awakening were measured via three self-report items. CPAP use was measured via objective electronic monitoring cards.


RESULTS
Thirty-seven percent of the sample reported at least one frequent insomnia complaint, with 23.7% reporting difficulty maintaining sleep, 20.6% reporting early morning awakening and 16.6% reporting difficulty initiating sleep. After controlling for age and gender, sleep maintenance insomnia displayed a statistically significant negative relationship with average nightly minutes of CPAP use (p<.05) as well as adherence status as defined by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (p<.02).


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, these are the first empirical data to document that insomnia can be a risk factor for poorer CPAP adherence. Identifying and reducing insomnia complaints among patients prescribed CPAP may be a straightforward and cost-effective way to increase CPAP adherence.
Wickwire
Emerson M
EM
Center for Sleep Disorders, Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Associates, Columbia, MD 21044, USA. ewickwire@pulmdocs.com
Smith
Michael T
MT
Birnbaum
Sandra
S
Collop
Nancy A
NA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome