Nocturnal positive pressure ventilation improves relationship satisfaction of patients with OSA and their partners.

OBJECTIVE

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation is considered the therapeutic standard for obstructed sleep apnea (OSA). Therapy success may also be affected by the patient's bed partner. A questionnaire was developed and tested that measures the attitude of the bed partner towards CPAP therapy and relationship effects.

METHODS

A new questionnaire to capture bed partners' attitude towards CPAP mask therapy was used with an anonymous sample of 508 bed partners. Possible constructs underlying the attitude of the bed partner towards mask appearance have been investigated by means of a Principal Components Analysis.

RESULTS

The survey revealed bed partners' positive attitude towards their partner's CPAP therapy (over 90% of bed partners were happy with the therapy, over 75% would recommend the therapy). Importantly, the bed partners' satisfaction with the relationship increased significantly during CPAP therapy (before therapy: 49% were satisfied, after therapy initiation: 70%; p<.001). There was a strong correlation between support for CPAP therapy and improved sleep quality of bed partners (r = 0.352, p>.001). Furthermore, the validation of the questionnaire through principal components analysis revealed three major factors: Attitude (of the bed partner towards CPAP therapy), Looks (of the mask perceived by the bed partner), Intimacy (effect of CPAP therapy on relationship and intimacy).

CONCLUSION

Both, the OSA patient and the bed partner benefit from CPAP therapy. This is the first bed partner questionnaire - interviewing the bed partner alone and anonymously - that showed that CPAP therapy also positively influences the relationship. We recommend that the bed partner be involved in the CPAP treatment from the start of therapy.