Elsevier

Respiratory Medicine

Volume 98, Issue 4, April 2004, Pages 330-333
Respiratory Medicine

A randomized trial of auto-titrating CPAP and fixed CPAP in the treatment of obstructive sleep Apnea–Hypopnea

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2003.11.002Get rights and content
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Abstract

Background: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the treatment of choice for obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea (OSAH). Auto-titrating CPAP (APAP) devices automatically adjust pressure and may improve treatment compliance compared to fixed CPAP (F-CPAP).

Methods: Randomized, prospective, single-blind, crossover trial to compare efficacy, side effects, compliance, patient satisfaction and preference between APAP and F-CPAP therapy in patients with moderate to severe OSAH. There were two treatment periods of 4 weeks each (APAP and F-CPAP), separated by a 2-week washout period.

Results: Ten CPAP-naı̈ve OSAH patients (9 males) completed the study. They had Mean ± sd age of 44.9±9.7 years; body mass index of 35.9±12.9 kg/m2 and apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) of 47.2±35.6. Both forms of therapy were equally effective in improving the symptoms and in reducing the AHI. Both forms of therapy were associated with frequent side effects and had similar patient compliance. At the end of the study, more patients (6–1) preferred F-CPAP to A-CPAP therapy.

Conclusion: A-PAP was as effective as F-CPAP in the treatment of OSAH but was not associated with fewer side effects, better compliance, better satisfaction or increased patient preference.

Keywords

Obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea
Auto-titrating CPAP
Fixed CPAP
Compliance
Efficacy
Side effects

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This study was funded by Respironics Inc., Murrysville, PA.