DALLAS (May 28, 2019)—Remote monitoring and patient self-monitoring can drive CPAP adherence for people with sleep apnea, according to research presented by ResMed at the American Thoracic Society’s 2019 ATS International Conference.
Average adherence to PAP (positive airway pressure), the standard for treating sleep apnea, is approximately 50% when using legacy technology with no cloud connectivity or remote monitoring capabilities. According to the new study, researchers found significantly higher rates when they evaluated patients on 100% cloud-connectable devices that enable remote monitoring: more than 31,000 Brazilians, 17,000 Mexicans and 4.1 million Americans.
Percent of study participants achieving 90-day PAP adherence
All remotely monitored Remotely and self-monitored
United States 74% 85%
Brazil 72% 83%
Mexico 66% 81%
“These results equate a strong endorsement for remote and self-monitoring technology,” said study coauthor and ResMed Chief Medical Officer Carlos M. Nunez, M.D. “Despite different health care systems, financial and social issues, patients in all three countries have reached above-average adherence rates when treated with 100% cloud-connectable PAP devices.”
Researchers also urge clinicians to enroll their PAP patients in a self-monitoring program like myAir, ResMed’s patient-engagement app. While 26% of U.S. patients in this study had registered for myAir, only 8.1% of Brazilian patients and 2.8% of Mexican patients had.
PAP adherence was defined for this study using the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services definition: using PAP usage of four hours per night for 70% of nights in a 30-day span within the first 90 days of therapy.
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