Impact of a controlled heated breathing tube humidifier on sleep quality during CPAP therapy in a cool sleeping environment

Abstract

There are conflicting data on the effect of adding a heated humidifier to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). The effects of heated humidification on sleep quality and treatment side-effects for patients who prefer a cold bedroom environment have not been studied. A randomised, controlled crossover trial involving 19 patients with a first-ever diagnosis of OSAS measured the effect of conventional heated humidification added to CPAP compared with a controlled heated breathing tube humidifier (ThermoSmart®; Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, Auckland, New Zealand) on sleep quality. During the night in the sleep laboratory at a mean room temperature of 14°C, less condensation formed with the controlled heated breathing tube humidifier (1.9 mL versus 35.3 mL) in the delivery system. In addition, the total sleep time, time spent in sleep stages 3 and 4, and rapid eye movement sleep phases were significantly longer and the overall side-effect score was lower than with conventional heated humidification. Patients on nasal continuous positive airway pressure desiring a cool bedroom temperature could benefit from controlled heated breathing tube humidification technology (with inputs from ambient temperature, set pressure and flow). Copyright©ERS Journals Ltd 2008.