Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Compliance with CPAP in elderly patients with OSA.

Sleep Medicine 2000 July 2
Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in the general population and especially in the geriatric age group. Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a highly effective treatment but can be difficult for some patients to use.Objective: We investigated the question if older patients were less compliant with CPAP therapy than younger patients and may not realize its benefits.Methods: We conducted a prospective, non-randomized study comparing use of CPAP in patients over age 65 with patients under age 65. One hundred and seven consecutive patients with a new diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea were started on therapy with nasal CPAP. We obtained follow-up data on all 107 patients. Compliance with CPAP was assessed by patients subjective report of use and, in a subset of 21 patients, by objective measurement using a microchip installed in the CPAP unit that measures actual hours of use at therapeutic pressure.Results: The percentage of patients using CPAP regularly was not different in the two groups: 70% of patients in the over age 65 group used CPAP regularly vs. 72% of patients under age 65. The over 65 group used CPAP 6.5 nights per week, an average of 6.5 h of use per night. The under 65 group was not significantly different, using CPAP 6.8 nights per week, a mean of 6.7 h of use per night.Conclusion: Patients over age 65 are able to tolerate CPAP as well as patients under age 65.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app