Unattended automated titration to determine therapeutic continuous positive airway pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract

Recently, devices which use a new technology that automatically titrates positive airway pressure have become available. Such devices continually adjust the pressure to maintain airway patency. In this paper, unattended automated titration to determine the therapeutic continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea was evaluated to ascertain of it was a feasible titration to determine the therapeutic CPAP. Thirty patients participated in this study with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome defined by an hypopnea index >20/h. Automated titration during full polysomnography was performed in the hospital using auto CPAP devices (Autoset T, RESMED Co, Australia). During titration, there was no direct supervision by a technician. The titration method was as follows. Data obtained during the use of auto CPAP devices and polysomnography were used to provde a fixed single pressure for subsequent treatment. After determining the therapeutic continuous positive airway pressure, the efficacy of the patient's CPAP device was reconfirmed during full polysomnography. The results were, 1) Proper fixed single therapeutic pressure could be determined with this unattended automated titration, consequently apnea and sleep structure could be improved (Total sleep time, Sleep efficiency, %Stage 3 + 4, Apnea index, Apnea hypopnea index, Arousal index, Lowest SpO2, and Duration of SpO2 less than 90% were improved statistically (p<0.05)). 2) The 95th percentile airway pressure of the auto CPAP device should be applied for the therapeutic pressure. 3) Automated titration during full polysomnography should be performed using auto CPAP devices. 4) After determining the therapeutic CPAP, the efficacy of the patient's CPAP device should be reconfirmed during full polysomnography. 5) This method of titration was useful at the institution without attendant technician intervention.