Increasing Patient Compliance of Prescribed CPAP Therapy

Sleep apnea is a fairly common problem in adults, estimated to affect about four percent of men and two percent of women.  Yet of this number, only about ten percent receive treatment, with many cases remaining undiagnosed. Unfortunately, sleep apnea can negatively affect one’s health by contributing to daytime sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating, thinking and remembering.  More serious concerns include high blood pressure, increased incidence of stroke and risk of heart disease, and automobile accidents. Sleep apnea may be characterized by loud snoring, episodes of breathing cessation, abrupt awakenings accompanied by shortness of breath, morning headache, and insomnia.   

Sleep apnea is generally diagnosed after participating in a sleep study.  Once diagnosed, your physician or a sleep specialist may recommend that you be fitted with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level mask as part of your treatment. The most widely recommended treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, CPAP entails wearing a mask-like device while you sleep, which provides pressurized air to prevent the airway from collapsing. Unfortunately, without proper coaching and guidance for using these breathing devices, patients may give up on these devices, leaving the disorder untreated.   

There’s a simple solution to this lack of use: education. In a 2005 Veterans Affairs Medical Center study to determine how to improve compliance with CPAP therapy, participants received clinical training in the use of their devices.  Following this simple intervention, twenty-nine percent of patients increased nightly CPAP use.  

At Symbius Medical, we take a clinical approach to care.  To ensure your complete comfort and understanding of your home medical equipment, our highly trained Respiratory Therapists specially fit you with the proper equipment, and instruct you on how to use and care for your device in your home. We follow up ten days later to answer questions, and to ensure you are comfortable operating your new sleep therapy equipment. This follow-up not only guarantees your satisfaction, but also allows us to assess your level of compliance with the prescribed therapy.   

To learn more about our CPAP therapy options, call us today at (800) 948-1868, or email us at cpapsupplies@symbiusmedical.com.