Management of CPAP Follow-up by Telemonitoring in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: The PROTEUS Project

Abstract

Purpose: CPAP is the standard treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but as many as 50% of patients discontinue its use, within three years. The PROTEUS project aims to enhance CPAP adherence through telemonitoring. Patients and Methods: OSA patients undergoing CPAP treatment since July 2018, had an in-person reassessment after three months, followed by quarterly telemonitoring by providers, who intervened in cases of poor adherence (less than 4 h·night−1 or less than 70% of days), excessive mask leakage, or elevated residual apnea-hypopnea index (rAHICPAP). Results: A total of 486 (~87%) out of 558 patients analyzed remained adherent to CPAP after five years. The average rAHICPAP was 3.95 ± 5.25 events·h−1, the average CPAP usage was 6.35 ± 1.72 hours. Elevated mask leakage occurred in 25% of patients. No significant differences were found between sexes. Conclusion: The PROTEUS project showed promising results in supporting long-term CPAP adherence. However, further research is needed to validate its long-term impact and wider applicability in OSA management.