Study into the use of continuous positive airway pressure in obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome patients with daytime drowsiness.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) is a respiratory disorder with high morbidity and mortality. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most commonly prescribed conservative treatment for adults with OSAHS. CPAP therapy normalises or decreases OSAHS symptoms and can reduce and prevent OSAHS complications. AIMS: To evaluate adherence to nasal CPAP treatment and CPAP impact on daytime drowsiness. METHOD: A sample of 20 patients evaluated for daytime drowsiness using the Epworth sleepiness scale and interviewed for adherence to nasal CPAP use. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in the level of daytime sleepiness of the patients users of nasal CPAP (p=0.017); patients not using nasal CPAP experienced a decrease without statistical significance (p=0.162). 100% of CPAP users reported benefits and 50% of these reported related discomforts. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OSAHS that use CPAP have a greater reduced level of sleepiness than those who do not use it.