Claustrophobic tendencies and continuous positive airway pressure therapy non-adherence in adults with obstructive sleep apnea.
OBJECTIVE
(1) Determine claustrophobia frequency in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after first CPAP night; (2) determine if claustrophobia influences CPAP non-adherence.


BACKGROUND
Claustrophobia is common among CPAP-treated OSA adults yet few studies have examined the problem.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of prospective, longitudinal study of OSA adults (n = 97). CPAP-Adapted Fear and Avoidance Scale (CPAP-FAAS) collected immediately after CPAP titration polysomnogram.


METHODS
objective CPAP use at 1 week and 1 month.


RESULTS
Sixty-three percent had claustrophobic tendencies. Females had higher CPAP-FAAS scores than males. FAAS ≥ 25, positive score for claustrophobic tendencies, was influential on CPAP non-adherence at 1 week (aOR = 5.53, 95% CI 1.04, 29.24, p = 0.04) and less CPAP use at 1month (aOR = 5.06, 95% CI 1.48, 17.37, p = 0.01) when adjusted for body mass index and CPAP mask style.


CONCLUSIONS
Claustrophobia is prevalent among CPAP-treated OSA adults and influences short-term and longer-term CPAP non-adherence. Interventions are needed to address this treatment-related barrier.
Howard University College of Nursing & Allied Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
Janalyn Cantey
JC
Edmonds
Penn State University College of Nursing, University Park, PA, USA.
Hyunju
H
Yang
Penn State College of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Hershey, PA, USA.
Tonya S
TS
King
Penn State University College of Nursing, University Park, PA, USA.
Douglas A
DA
Sawyer
Sleep and Lung Health Enhancement, Pulmonary Associates, P.A., Newark, DE, USA.
Albert
A
Rizzo
Penn State University College of Nursing, University Park, PA, USA. Electronic address: ams24@psu.edu.
Amy M
AM
Sawyer
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*
Anxiety disorders; Claustrophobia; Continuous positive airway pressure; Obstructive sleep apnea; Phobic disorders; Treatment compliance