title: Factors influencing compliance with continuous positive airway pressure ventilation in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Positive pressure ventilation is considered first line therapy in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome however compliance is limited by various factors. We aimed to investigate possible factors influencing compliance.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty patients were prescribed positive pressure ventilation for obstructive sleep apnea during June 2006-June 2008. Of these patients, 77% (n= 108) were reached by telephone and a questionnaire was administered regarding factors influencing treatment compliance. Airway passage was measured with C2 vertebrae level and narrowest airway passage on lateral skull radiographs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age was 52.2 ± 12.3 years. Seventy one percent (n= 77) of subjects obtained the prescribed device. There was no difference in sex, age, marital status, educational level, symptoms, co-morbid conditions, and social security coverage between the subjects who have received the prescribed devices and who have not (p> 0.05). No difference was detected between these two groups of patients in view of Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and apnea hypopnea index (AHI). Mean duration of device usage was 6.3 ± 2.3 hours. The device use compliance was not affected by any of the following factors: age, gender, level of education, co-morbid diseases, ESS score, AHI, airway passage measurements, application of humidification and education concerning the device (p> 0.05). Patient (p= 0.057) and bed partners (p= 0.001) satisfaction about the device yielded higher compliance rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors influencing compliance rates in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome seems to be related to satisfaction about the device use however upper airway morphology measured with C2 vertebrae level and narrowest airway passage has no impact on treatment compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey. meraluyar1@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uyar
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Elbek
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mete
authors.forename: Nazan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bayram
authors.forename: Nilüfer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Çifçi
authors.forename: Nevhiz
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gündoğdu
authors.forename: Öner
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Dikensoy
mesh_terms: D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011859:Radiography; D012886:Skull / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires