Age- and gender-dependent adherence with continuous positive airway pressure therapy.
BACKGROUND
Several studies have analysed adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy but little is known on the effects of age and gender.


METHODS
Data from 4281 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treated with CPAP (S8, ResMed, Sydney, Australia) were analysed, including apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), mask pressure, leakage, period of use (hours of use/night), and efficiency (days of use/total days). Patterns of use and treatment efficacy were compared between different age groups and genders.


RESULTS
Average numbers of days used per week (range of the subgroups 5.8±1.6 to 6.3±1.2 days/week) and period of use (range 363±88 to 395±120 min) increased with age. Residual AHI(CPAP) (range 4.8±3.4 to 11.1±9.0/h), leakage (range 0.09±0.11 to 0.27±0.32l/s) increased significantly with age. Males had statistically significantly higher average hours of use (377±94 vs. 370±96 min), AHI(CPAP) (6.4±4.9 vs. 5.4±4.5/h), mask pressure (8.8±2.0 vs. 8.4±1.9 cm H(2)O), and leakage (0.13±0.16 vs. 0.11±0.15l/s) than females.


CONCLUSIONS
Adherence to therapy is high and therapeutic efficacy is excellent in long-term CPAP users. Adherence is both age- and gender-dependent, but the differences are small and not clinically relevant.
ResMed Science Center, ResMed Germany Inc., Martinsried, Germany. holger.woehrle@resmed.de
Holger
H
Woehrle
Andrea
A
Graml
Gerhard
G
Weinreich
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000628:therapy*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*