The non compliance rate after prescription of CPAP is sufficiently high that some insurance companies want documentation of use by a rental unit for anywhere from 30 days to three months before they will actually buy you one. Medicare does the same. It’s the same reason that the FAA wants compliance data from your AME.
Almost half of these machines get used five or six times and then get put away in a closet on newly diagnosed patients who aren’t compelled to use them.
RESULTS:
Patient demographics included mean (± SD) age (58±11 years), male sex (70 of 80 patients [88%]) and mean apnea-hypopnea index (70±44 events/h). At the time of the interview (64.0±3.7 months after diagnosis), 43 of 80 patients (54%) were still using CPAP and most reported an improvement in symptoms. Twelve of 80 patients (15%) had abandoned CPAP after using it for 10.1±15.5 months, and 25 of 80 patients (31%) had never commenced therapy after initial diagnosis and CPAP titration. Analysis of scores reflecting initial patient sleepiness revealed a significant association of this symptom with subsequent CPAP compliance.CONCLUSION:
Although many patients with OSA derive subjective benefit from, and adhere to treatment with CPAP, a significant proportion of those so diagnosed either do not initiate or eventually abandon therapy. Initial experience with CPAP appears to be important, reinforcing the need for early education and support in these patients