Researchers take different approach to adherence to CPAP therapy 

CHICAGO – Researchers at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University are testing an app with a new adherence metric: the percentage of time a user wears their CPAP device relative to their time spent sleeping. “Sleep apnea can be effectively treated only when CPAP is used during the entire time spent in bed sleeping,” said Esra Tasali, MD, director of the UChicago Sleep Center and senior author of an initial study on the app published Dec. 5 in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. “We know that sleep patterns can vary considerably, so one-size-fits-all adherence guidelines are insufficient for most patients. By developing a tool for personalized CPAP treatment for sleep apnea, we are providing an opportunity for patients and providers to deliver and track therapy based on individual need.” For the study, a team at Northwestern University modified a weight-loss app they developed that tracks diet, physical activity and weight. To support weight loss, the app integrates information from a wearable sleep and activity tracker and weight scale. Since excess weight is a major risk factor for sleep apnea, researchers modified the app to have it chart patient CPAP wear time and check it against a goal of wearing the device 100% of time spent sleeping. Based on the patient feedback, researchers added features like push notifications to remind users to wear their CPAP device before bedtime. As a next step, researchers are planning additional studies to test the tool against traditional methods for monitoring CPAP use to determine whether it improves patient adherence to therapy.