Effectiveness of structured educational programs in increasing adherence to CPAP therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome

Aim. To study the effectiveness of a structured educational program in improving adherence to therapy with the creation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.

Methods. The study included 40 patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, who received CPAP therapy. Patients were divided into two groups: the first group (main) - 20 patients who had undergone training according to a specially designed structured educational program, the second group (control) - 20 patients who had not received training. CPAP therapy was considered as effective in case of reducing the apnea-hypopnea index to less than 5 per hour of sleep, with an average duration of the machine use for the night was to be more than 5 hours.

Results. Using a structured educational program in patients of the main (first) group showed a good adherence of patients and the effectiveness of CPAP therapy. Positive dynamics of clinical symptoms, in particular a decrease in daytime sleepiness, assessed according to Epworth sleepiness scale (17.1±4.2 vs. 3.9±1.6; p=0,0000), was registered, the number of pauses in breathing during the night significantly reduced (44.37±14.6 vs. 2.86±3.5 per hour; p=0,0000), accompanied by improvement of night saturation parameters: SpO2min (58.4±9.0 vs. 78.0±9.3; p=0,0000), SpO2mean (87.2±6.8 vs. 93.1±3.5; p=0,0018). Against this background, after 3 months of therapy a decrease in body mass index and blood pressure was registered.

Conclusion. The implementation of a structured educational program showed increase in adherence and the effectiveness of therapy with the creation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP therapy) in treating obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome.