A pathway underlying the impact of CPAP adherence on intimate relationship with bed partner in men with obstructive sleep apnea.
OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to determine the pathway underlying the effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence on intimate relationship with bed partner in men with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We hypothesized that CPAP with good adherence affected the intimate relationship with bed partner directly and indirectly, and it was mediated through daytime sleepiness and activity level in men with OSA.


METHODS
Data were obtained from an education program for enhancing CPAP adherence. Men who were newly diagnosed of OSA and CPAP therapy naïve were recruited in a tertiary teaching hospital.


RESULTS
Self-reported quality of life [Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire], daytime sleepiness [Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)], and negative emotion symptoms [depression, anxiety, stress scale] were assessed before and after CPAP treatment at 1-year assessment. Seventy-three men were included in the data analysis, with a mean ± SD age of 52 ± 10 years, body mass index of 29.0 ± 5.2 kg/m(2), ESS of 9.5 ± 5.6, and median [interquartile range(IR)] apnea and hypopnea index of 31 (21, 56) events/h. The median (IR) CPAP daily usage was 4.3(0, 6.1) h/day. From the path analysis, CPAP therapy was shown to improve intimate relationship directly (ß = 0.185) and indirectly (ß = 0.050) by reducing daytime sleepiness and increasing activity level. However, negative emotion symptoms were not the mediators between CPAP adherence and the intimate relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
CPAP therapy with good adherence is related directly and indirectly to a better intimate relationship with bed partner in men with OSA. It was possibly attributed to reduced daytime sleepiness and increased activity level.
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China. agneslai@hku.hk.
Agnes Y K
AY
Lai
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.|Research Centre of Heart, Brain, Hormone and Healthy Aging, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Mary S M
MS
Ip
Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Jamie C M
JC
Lam
College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Terri E
TE
Weaver
School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Daniel Y T
DY
Fong
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017286:Polysomnography; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*
CPAP adherence; Continuous positive airway pressure; Intimate relationship; Sleep apnea