A new study conducted by scientists at Regenstrief Institute and Indiana - Purdue University Indianapolis suggests that personal support during the early stages of CPAP use can play a determining role in the success of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment. Participants in the study who received one-on-one support in the first few weeks of CPAP use had better therapy outcomes than those who did not. The successful support approach used in the study centered on patient education, engagement, and individualized treatment plans. When patients were able to talk through challenges associated with early CPAP use with a dedicated support professional over the course of a few weeks, they were more likely to adapt quickly and stay on therapy longer than those without the support.
Unfortunately, personalized support is not wide-spread throughout the sleep apnea treatment space. According to study researchers, “patients who are diagnosed with OSA are typically placed on a CPAP treatment plan, often with little follow-up until several months later. During the process of beginning to use CPAP, however, patients must go through a period of adaptation, and their experiences during this early period can set the stage for success or failure to adhere to treatment in the long term.” (Footnote 1)
However, despite the lack of adequate support currently available, the researchers argue that their findings point to a huge opportunity in the sleep wellness space. "This finding implies that there appears to be a major opportunity to improve CPAP adherence by placing greater emphasis on our support of patients as they adapt CPAP therapy to their own personal contexts.” (ibid) With more personal support, more people can access the major benefits of sleep better and avoid the many dangers of untreated sleep apnea.
Sources: Miech E J, Bravata D M, Yaggi H, et al. (February 15, 2019) Adapting Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy to Where Patients Live: A Comparative Case Study. Cureus 11(2): e4078. doi:10.7759/cureus.4078
Lofta understands the importance personalized support during early CPAP use.
That’s why we created the RightStart Therapy Program - an intensive therapy support program coupled with the best treatment devices on the market – to ensure you get firmly on the path to better sleep - and stay there.
