IS SEVERITY OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA IS A SURROGATE MARKER OF CPAP TITRATION PRESSURE?

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is emerging epidemic and its presence often goes unnoticed. It may be either consequence or cause of several non-communicable life style related disorders. Identifying OSA and timely intervention makes remarkable difference quality of life and co-existing disorders. CPAP is the mainstay of treatment in dynamic obstruction related OSA. However patient undergoing CPAP titration is economical burden and time consuming. We tried to look at whether severity of OSA can predict approximate CPAP pressure required for domiciliary use.

Methodology: We retrospectively analyzed data of patients who have undergone CPAP titration and there severity of OSA based on Apnoea hypopnoea index. We subcategorised them in to mild, moderate and severe categories

Results: We looked at 17 serial patients who underwent CPAP titration. Using unpaired t test and two tailed p values, we analysed difference between mild and moderate, mild and severe and moderate and severe categories, however no statistical significance was noted with regard to CPAP titration pressure between these groups.

Conclusion: There was no correlation between CPAP pressure and severity of OSA noted in our study.