title: Positive airway pressure device compliance of the patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate factors affecting the usage of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 47 patients with OSAS who were suggested to use CPAP device at home and expected to use the device for at least 6 months. The compliance of CPAP device was determined by 2 different methods. In subjective evaluation, total time for usage of the device was recorded according to patients' declaration. In objective evaluation, total time of usage was recorded from the counter on device and it was divided into the number of days passed from the beginning of the treatment and at least 4 h of usage in a day was accepted as an effective usage. Data of compliant and non-compliant patients were compared in order to determine the factors affecting CPAP treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients were female, 37 of them were male and mean age was 52.98 ± 20.4 years. Mean Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) was 54.4 ± 20, mean oxygen saturation (SO2) was 87.3 ± 4.6 and mean CPAP pressure was 7.4 ± 1.9 in the whole study population. The compliance of CPAP treatment was found to be 48.9% according to objective evaluation whereas it was 80.9% according to subjective evaluation. Five of 8 patients (62.5%) who did not use the device stated the problems about the device mentioning the mask as a reason for their non-compliance. Treatment compliance was better in the patients with high Epworth sleepiness scale (16.5 ± 5.5 vs. 11.8 ± 4.1, p < 0.05). Epworth sleepiness scale of the patients who were compliant to the treatment was significantly decreased after the treatment both in subjective and objective evaluation. Treatment compliance wasn't different between male and female patients, however it was significantly lower in active smokers compared to non-smokers and ex-smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was concluded that the most important factor associated with compliance to CPAP treatment in the patients with OSAS was Epworth sleepiness scale while mask related side effects might be a reason of treatment withdrawal and all these issues should be addressed carefully in order to increase compliance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Disease, Kocaeli University, Medical Faculty, Turkey.
authors.forename: Haşim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boyacı
authors.forename: Kübra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gacar
authors.forename: Serap Argun
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Barış
authors.forename: Ilknur
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Başyiğit
authors.forename: Füsun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yıldız
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*