Positive airway pressure: Making an impact on sleep apnea

[摘要] Positive airway pressure (PAP) devices deliver a pressurized column of air to open the airway in patients withsleep apnea. For patients with moderate to severe sleepapnea, PAP therapy is the gold standard for treatment,with demonstrated improvements in daytime sleepinessand cardiovascular measures that are superior to conservative treatments. For a variety of reasons, adherence toPAP therapy is a challenge for many patients, resulting indefi cits in the frequency and duration of use. To improveuse and compliance to therapy, several advanced featuresare available to enhance comfort, pressure, and humidifi cation factors associated with PAP devices. Patientmotivation strategies such as motivational interviews,desensitization protocols, and PAP “NAPs” are also beingemployed to improve adherence to therapy.

[学科分类] 卫生学