Various Factors Affecting Short-Term Compliance Rates of CPAP in OSA Patients: in the Age of Insurance Coverage in Korea

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Although many studies have explored the factors affecting compliance with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the findings remain controversial. This study aimed to analyze CPAP compliance after insurance coverage began in Korea and to investigate what factors influenced CPAP compliance.Materials and Method: The subjects were 1,037 patients who were prescribed a CPAP after polysomnography at the Seoul Sleep Clinic; data were reviewed retrospectively. We classified those that used a CPAP for more than 4 hours per day for 70% or more days per month as into the good compliance group. We compared the ratio of good compliance by gender, position dependence, rapid eye movement (REM) dependence, telemonitoring of CPAP, pressure modification, and OSA severity.Results: There were no statistically significant differences in ratio of good compliance group according to gender, position dependence, REM dependence, or disease severity. When using a fixed CPAP (92.2%) rather than an auto PAP (88.4%), the ratio of patients in the good compliance group was significantly higher. Non-positioner and fixed CPAP users showed significantly longer average usage time.Conclusion: In a 3-month short-term follow-up study of CPAP compliance, the telemonitoring group and those using a fixed CPAP showed a higher ratio of good compliance. Average CPAP usage time was longer when using a fixed CPAP and in non-positioners. As age increased, CPAP usage time was longer, and the average compliance rate tended to increase.