0705 High Incidence Of Inadequate Health Literacy In Adults With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Is Not Associated With Positive Airway Pressure Use

Abstract

Introduction: Inadequate health literacy (HL) is associated with 1.5 - 3 times increased risk for poor health outcomes, nonadherence and lack of skills needed to manage one's own health. Inadequate HL prevalence in adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be as high as 30%. The relationship between HL and positive airway pressure (PAP) adherence has been rarely examined. Methods: A secondary analysis of prospective observational data was conducted to: 1) examine the prevalence of inadequate HL in adults with newly-diagnosed OSA and 2) determine if inadequate HL is associated with 1-wk and 1-mo PAP use. HL was measured using a 3-item Health Literacy Screening Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, and logistic regression were used. Results: Participants (n=67) were white (85%), males (52%) and females (48%), middle-aged (50±12 yrs), 64.2% had a middle to high school education and severe OSA (mean AHI 38.2±21 events/hr). Mean PAP use was 4.62±2.43 hrs/night at 1-wk and 4.33±2.27hrs/ night at 1-mo. Using a threshold of ≥4 hrs/night, 64% were adherent at 1-wk and 60% at 1-mo. Sixty two percent (n=42) screened positive for inadequate HL. A positive screen for inadequate HL (by individual screening items or by cumulative number of items screened positive) was not associated with PAP use (mean hr/night) at 1-wk or 1-mo (not retained in the final model). HL was also not associated with PAP non-adherence (<4hrs/night) or PAP failure (<2hrs/night) by logistic regression. Conclusion: Inadequate HL may be prevalent in adults with OSA. OSA and PAP patient education content and design should align with HL abilities and skills. Disease and treatment education are influential on PAP adherence. Future research should consider adequacy of three generalized items to assess HL and disease-specific HL as more robust measures are available. Larger, heterogeneous sample sizes are needed to precisely estimate the relationship between HL and PAP adherence.