Auto bi-level with pressure relief during exhalation as a rescue therapy for optimally treated obstructive sleep apnoea patients with poor compliance to continuous positive airways pressure therapy--a pilot study.

BACKGROUND

Continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) is the accepted therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), but compliance is variable. We hypothesised that an auto bi-level device with pressure relief during exhalation (auto bi-level) would treat OSA as well as CPAP and that transitioning non-compliant CPAP patients without modifiable causes of poor compliance to this device would improve compliance and clinical outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

OSA patient's on positive airways pressure therapy with compliance below 4 h of use on ≥70% of nights over the past 3 months despite having no modifiable causes of poor compliance were transitioned onto an auto bi-level device for 10 weeks. Patients completed an Epworth sleepiness scale and Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ) at 15 days and 10 weeks and had their compliance and therapy data downloaded. Additionally, patients underwent polysomnography on their auto bi-level device at week 10.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients were included. The apnoea-hypopnoea index, arousal index, sleep efficiency, total sleep time and sleep stage distribution were similar at baseline and week 10. Compliance, excessive daytime sleepiness and several FOSQ domains improved significantly at day 15 and week 10. Patients requiring an effective pressure ≥10 cmH(2)0 during the lead-in period on CPAP experienced greater significant improvements compliance than those requiring an effective pressure <10 cmH(2)0.

CONCLUSIONS

Auto bi-level with pressure relief during exhalation treats OSA as effectively as CPAP without inducing additional arousals. Transitioning non-compliant CPAP patients without modifiable causes of poor compliance from their CPAP to this new device improves compliance and clinical outcomes over a 10-week period.