OBJECTIVE: Although numerous studies have documented a high prevalence of sleep apnea in persons with spinal cord injury, relatively little has been published regarding treatment of sleep apnea in this population. The purpose of this study was to describe long-term treatment outcomes and side effects of sleep apnea treatment in persons with spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Descriptive, postal mail survey to spinal cord injury individuals with sleep apnea followed by a Veterans Affairs Spinal Cord Injury Service. RESULTS: The response rate to the mailed survey was 54%, with complete surveys obtained from 40 individuals with spinal cord injury and sleep apnea. The majority of participants (93%) had been diagnosed with sleep apnea through routine clinical care, and patients had been diagnosed a mean of 4 yrs earlier. Continuous positive airway pressure was the most commonly used treatment. Continuous positive airway pressure was tried by 80% of patients, and of these, 63% continued to use continuous positive airway pressure, with mean usage 6.5 nights per week and 6.9 hrs per night. Continuous positive airway pressure was rated as beneficial in comparison with its side effects. The most common side effects were nasal congestion and mask discomfort. CONCLUSION: Many spinal cord injury individuals with sleep apnea become long-term users of continuous positive airway pressure and perceive a subjective benefit from the treatment.
OBJECTIVE: Although numerous studies have documented a high prevalence of sleep apnea in persons with spinal cord injury, relatively little has been published regarding treatment of sleep apnea in this population. The purpose of this study was to describe long-term treatment outcomes and side effects of sleep apnea treatment in persons with spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Descriptive, postal mail survey to spinal cord injury individuals with sleep apnea followed by a Veterans Affairs Spinal Cord Injury Service. RESULTS: The response rate to the mailed survey was 54%, with complete surveys obtained from 40 individuals with spinal cord injury and sleep apnea. The majority of participants (93%) had been diagnosed with sleep apnea through routine clinical care, and patients had been diagnosed a mean of 4 yrs earlier. Continuous positive airway pressure was the most commonly used treatment. Continuous positive airway pressure was tried by 80% of patients, and of these, 63% continued to use continuous positive airway pressure, with mean usage 6.5 nights per week and 6.9 hrs per night. Continuous positive airway pressure was rated as beneficial in comparison with its side effects. The most common side effects were nasal congestion and mask discomfort. CONCLUSION: Many spinal cord injury individuals with sleep apnea become long-term users of continuous positive airway pressure and perceive a subjective benefit from the treatment.
Authors: David J Berlowitz; Rachel Schembri; Marnie Graco; Jacqueline M Ross; Najib Ayas; Ian Gordon; Bonne Lee; Allison Graham; Susan V Cross; Martin McClelland; Paul Kennedy; Pradeep Thumbikat; Cynthia Bennett; Andrea Townson; Timothy J Geraghty; Sue Pieri-Davies; Raj Singhal; Karen Marshall; Deborah Short; Andrew Nunn; Duncan Mortimer; Doug Brown; Robert J Pierce; Peter A Cistulli Journal: Thorax Date: 2018-12-11 Impact factor: 9.139
Authors: David J Berlowitz; Najib Ayas; Maree Barnes; Douglas J Brown; Peter A Cistulli; Tim Geraghty; Alison Graham; Bonsan Bonne Lee; Meg Morris; Fergal O'Donoghue; Peter D Rochford; Jack Ross; Balraj Singhal; Jo Spong; Brooke Wadsworth; Robert J Pierce Journal: Trials Date: 2013-06-19 Impact factor: 2.279