Compliance is often the primary challenge with achieving effective PAP treatment.
In the early 1990s, many researchers agreed that treatment compliance rates were around 46%.1
The good news from more recent research is that, although patient compliance remains an ongoing challenge, modern technology and practices present a more optimistic picture.
Solutions
Research indicates that if patients and their families have the proper equipment and training, an adequate number of caregivers, and a support system of experienced healthcare professionals, they will adapt to and continue therapy.2,3,4,5 Most researchers agree that the best approach to improving compliance is a multi-faceted approach:
- Comfortable, easy-to-use and reliable equipment
- Education supplied by the healthcare team—a population-based CPAP program consisting of consistent follow-up, "troubleshooting," and regular feedback to both patients and physicians can achieve CPAP compliance rates of > 85% over six months6
- The patient's active involvement in his or her own treatment
- The support network available for the patient
Read on to learn more about ResMed's technologies to support and promote compliance:
References
1 Kribbs NB et al. Objective measurement of patterns of nasal CPAP use by patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Am Rev Respir Dis 1993; 147: 887-95.
2 Oppenheimer EA. The American experience. IVUN News 1997; 11(2): 8-9.
3 Zozula R et al. Compliance with CPAP: assessing and improving treatment outcomes. Current opinions in pulmonary medicine (US) Nov 2001, 7(6) p391-8.
4 Hoy CJ et al. Can intensive support improve CPAP use in patients with the sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome? Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1999; 159:1096-1100.
5 Chervin RD et al. Compliance with nasal CPAP can be improved by simple interventions. Sleep 1997; 20(4):284-9.
6 Sin Don D et al. Long-term compliance rates to continuous positiveairway pressure in obstructive sleep apnea: a population-based study. Chest (United States) 2002; 121(2):430-435.