Telemedicine management of obstructive sleep apnea disorder in China: a randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial.

PURPOSE: Previous studies assessed different components of telemedicine management pathway for OSA instead of the whole pathway. This randomized, controlled, and non-inferiority trial aimed to assess whether telemedicine management is clinically inferior to in-person care in China. METHODS: Adults suspected of OSA were randomized to telemedicine (web-based questionnaires, self-administered home sleep apnea test [HSAT], automatically adjusting positive airway pressure [APAP], and video-conference visits) or in-person management (paper questionnaires, in-person HSAT set-up, APAP, and face-to-face visits). Participants with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 15 events/hour received APAP for 3 months. The non-inferiority analysis was based on the change in Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ) score and APAP adherence. Cost-effectiveness analysis was performed. RESULTS: In the modified intent-to-treat analysis set (n = 111 telemedicine, 111 in-person), FOSQ scores improved 1.73 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-2.14) points with telemedicine and 2.05 (1.64-2.46) points with in-person care. The lower bound of the one-sided 95% non-inferiority CI for the difference in change between groups of - 0.812 was larger than the non-inferiority threshold of - 1. APAP adherence at 3 months was 243.3 (223.1-263.5) minutes/night for telemedicine and 241.6 (221.3-261.8) minutes/night for in-person care. The lower bound of the one-sided 95% non-inferiority CI of - 22.2 min/night was higher than the non-inferiority delta of - 45 min/night. Telemedicine had lower total costs than in-person management (CNY 1482.7 ± 377.2 vs. 1912.6 ± 681.3; p < 0.0001), driven by patient costs, but no significant difference in QALYs. CONCLUSIONS: Functional outcomes and adherence were not clinically inferior in patients managed by a comprehensive telemedicine approach compared to those receiving in-person care in China. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.chictr.org.cn , Registration number ChiCTR2000030546. Retrospectively registered on March 06, 2020.

Factors influencing hospital charges for tonsillectomy to treat obstructive sleep apnea in children.

PURPOSE: This study investigates the impact of patient characteristics and demographics on hospital charges for tonsillectomy as a treatment for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aim is to identify potential disparities in hospital charges and contribute to efforts for equitable access to care. METHODS: Data from the 2016 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kid Inpatient Database (KID) was analyzed. The sample included 3,304 pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy ± adenoidectomy for OSA. Variables such as age, race, length of stay, hospital region, residential location, payer information, and median household income were collected. The primary outcome variable was hospital charge. Statistical analyses, including t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple linear regression, were conducted. RESULTS: Among 3,304 pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy for OSA. The average total charges for tonsillectomy were $26,400, with a mean length of stay of 1.70 days. Significant differences in charges were observed based on patient race, hospital region, and payer information. No significant differences were found based on gender, discharge quarter, residential location, or median household income. Multiple linear regression showed race, hospital region, and residential location were significant predictors of total hospital charges. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the influence of patient demographics and regional factors on hospital charges for pediatric tonsillectomy in OSA cases. These findings underscore the importance of addressing potential disparities in healthcare access and resource allocation to ensure equitable care for children with OSA. Efforts should be made to promote fair and affordable treatment for all pediatric OSA patients, regardless of their demographic backgrounds.

Medicare volume and reimbursement trends in lingual and hyoid procedures for obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to analyze utilization and reimbursement trends in lingual and hyoid surgery for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: Annual retrospective data on lingual and hyoid OSA surgeries was obtained from the 2000-2021 Medicare Part B National Summary Datafiles. Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes utilized included 21,685 (hyoid myotomy and suspension [HMS]), 41,512 (tongue base suspension [TBS]), 41,530 (radiofrequency ablation of the tongue [RFT]) and 42,870 (lingual tonsillectomy [LT]). RESULTS: The number of lingual and hyoid OSA surgeries rose 2777 % from 121 in 2000 to 3481 in 2015, before falling 82.9 % to 594 in 2021. Accordingly, Medicare payments rose 17,899 % from an inflation-adjusted $46,958 in 2000 to $8.45 million in 2015, before falling drastically to $341,011 in 2021. As the number of HMSs (2000: 91; 2015: 84; 2021: 165), TBS (2009: 48; 2015: 31; 2021: 16), and LTs (2000: 121; 2015: 261; 2021: 234) only experienced modest changes in utilization, this change was largely driven by RFT (2009: 340; 2015: 3105; 2021: 179). Average Medicare payments for RFT rose from $1110 in 2009 to $2994 in 2015, before falling drastically to $737 in 2021. CONCLUSION: Lingual and hyoid surgery for OSA has overall fallen in utilization among the Medicare population from 2000 to 2021. However, there was a brief spike in usage, peaking in 2015, driven by the adoption (and then quick dismissal) of RFT. The rise and fall in RFT use coincide with the rise and fall in reimbursement.

Economic evaluation of CPAP therapy for obstructive sleep apnea: a scoping review and evidence map.

PURPOSE: To synthesize findings of economic evaluations investigating cost-effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and of strategies of organization of care related to CPAP therapy. METHODS: Scoping review with searches conducted in MEDLINE, CRD, LILACS, and Embase in August 2020. Eligible studies were economic evaluations comparing CPAP to other alternative or assessing strategies of care for CPAP therapy. Results were presented narratively, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were presented in evidence maps. RESULTS: Of 34 studies, 3 concluded that CPAP is less costly and more effective when compared to usual care. Most studies indicated that CPAP is associated with better health outcomes, but at higher prices. ICER ranged from USD 316 to 98,793 per quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gained (median 16,499; IQR 8267 to 33,119). One study concluded that CPAP is more costly and less effective, when treatment is applied to all patients, regardless of disease severity. Variability of ICER was mainly due to definition of population and applied time horizons. When CPAP was compared to mandibular advancement device, ICER ranged from USD 21,153 to 361,028 (median 89,671; IQR 26,829 to 295,983), which represents the investment in CPAP therapy required to obtain one extra QALY. Three studies assessed the effects of organizing CPAP therapy in primary care, which was cost-effective or cost-saving. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to usual care, CPAP is cost-effective after the second year of treatment, when indicated for moderate-to-severe OSA. CPAP therapy may be even more cost-effective by using different strategies of organization of care. These findings may inform decision making related to CPAP reimbursement in health systems. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Not applicable.

Does Community Outsourcing Improve Timeliness of Care for Veterans With Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

BACKGROUND: Providing timely access to care has been a long-standing priority for the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. Recent strategies to reduce long wait times have focused on purchasing community care by a fee-for-service model. Whether outsourcing Veterans Affairs (VA) specialty care to the community improves access is unclear. OBJECTIVES: We compared time from referral to treatment among Veterans whose care was provided by VA versus community care purchased by the VA, using obstructive sleep apnea as an example condition. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of Northern California Veterans seeking sleep apnea care through the San Francisco VA Healthcare System between 2012 and 2018. We used multivariable linear regression with propensity score matching to investigate the relationship between time to care delivery and care setting (VA provided vs. VA-purchased community care). A total of 1347 Northern California Veterans who completed sleep apnea testing within the VA and 88 Veterans who completed sleep apnea testing in the community had complete data for analysis. RESULTS: Among Northern California Veterans with obstructive sleep apnea, outsourcing of care to the community was associated with longer time from referral to therapy (mean±SD, 129.6±82.8 d with VA care vs. 252.0±158.8 d with community care, P<0.001) and greater loss to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that purchasing community care may lead to care fragmentation and not improve wait times nor improve access to subspecialty care for Veterans.

The effects of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein on the clinical outcomes in obstructive sleep apnea patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), and their respective impact on the clinical outcomes in patients undergoing off-pump cardiac artery bypass grafting (OPCABG). METHODS: We enrolled consecutive eligible patients listed for elective OPCABG who underwent cardiorespiratory polygraphy before surgery between January 2019 and December 2019 in this prospective observational single-center study. Baseline, intraoperative, and postoperative clinical data were compared between absent-mild and moderate-severe OSA groups. Regression analysis investigated the relationship between Hs-CRP level and severity of OSA, and further assessed the factors influencing postoperative atrial fibrillation, duration of hospitalization, and hospital cost. RESULTS: Patients with moderate-severe OSA accounted for 42.3% (52/123) of the cohort. Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2), Hs-CRP, apnea hypopnea index (AHI), mean apnea time, maximum apnea time, and oxygen desaturation index ODI ≥ 3% were significantly higher in the moderate-severe OSA group than in the absent-mild OSA group. Left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), lowest arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), and mean SaO2 were significantly lower in the moderate-severe OSA group. Moderate-severe OSA was associated with elevated Hs-CRP level (OR = 2.356, 95% CI 1.101-5.041, P = 0.027). Hs-CRP was an independent risk factor for post-CABG atrial fibrillation (POAF) (OR = 1.212, P = 0.01). Hs-CRP level independently correlated with duration of hospitalization (B = 0.456, P = 0.001) and hospital cost (B = 1.111, P = 0.044). CONCLUSION: Hs-CRP level was closely related to OSA severity and have potential utility in predicting POAF, duration of hospitalization, and hospital costs in patients undergoing OPCABG.

Health Preference Measures in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Undergoing Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy: Data from a Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: In patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), the preference-based, health-related quality of life in terms of utility has not been extensively studied. OBJECTIVE: To address this point, we compared the performance of different instruments assessing utility in patients with OSAS undergoing continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 208 patients with OSAS (28 women, mean ± SE age 54.4 ± 0.7 years, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) 51.9 ± 1.8/h, Epworth sleepiness score 13.4 ± 0.2) participating in a randomized trial of different CPAP modalities over 2 years were analyzed. Evaluations included sleep studies, Epworth sleepiness scale, and several utility instruments that measure subjective health preference on a scale ranging from 1 (most preferred and perfect health) to 0 (least preferred and very poor health). RESULTS: After 2 years of CPAP therapy, the mean ± SE AHI was 6.7 ± 1.5/h and Epworth score 7.9 ± 0.4, both p < 0.001 versus baseline. Baseline utilities and changes (95% confidence interval) after 2 years of CPAP therapy were EuroQol 5-dimensions 0.79 ± 0.01, 0.02 (0.00-0.05, p = 0.064); short-form 6-dimension medical outcome questionnaire 0.72 ± 0.01, 0.06 (0.04-0.08, p < 0.001); Euro-thermometer visual analog scale 0.70 ± 0.01, 0.09 (0.07-0.12, p < 0.001); time trade-off 0.82 ± 0.01, 0.03 (0.01-0.06, p = 0.002); and standard gamble 0.82 ± 0.01, -0.01 (-0.03 to 0.02, p = 0.712). CONCLUSION: The short-form 6-dimensions questionnaire, the Euro-thermometer, and the time trade-off instruments reflected the major clinical improvements in OSAS, while the EuroQoL 5-dimensions and standard gamble tests were not sensitive to CPAP effects. These results indicate that the evaluation of utility of a treatment for OSAS depends critically on the instrument used, which is important from an individual and societal perspective.

Reducing cost and time to diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea using ambulatory sleep study: a Singapore sleep centre experience.

PURPOSE: The current gold standard for diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is overnight in laboratory polysomnography (PSG). However, PSGs are expensive, labor-intensive, and have long wait times. An ambulatory sleep study device, the WatchPAT, has been shown to have high correlation for sleep indices measured compared with PSG (AASM, 2016). Use of the WatchPAT could potentially lead to shorter waiting times and earlier diagnosis of OSA (Lancet Resp Med 3:310-8, 2015). Our study aimed to investigate if WatchPAT reduces time to diagnosis and treatment of OSA in a tertiary healthcare setting. A secondary aim was to investigate the cost-benefit of an ambulatory sleep study. METHODS: All patients who underwent diagnostic sleep studies in a single tertiary institution from 2014 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline characteristics and time from ordering of sleep study to prescription of continuous positive airway pressure were recorded. Data were categorized into two groups by type of diagnostic sleep study, PSG, and WatchPAT. The time to treatment and cost for diagnosis of OSA were compared between groups with the Paired T test/Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: Of 1898 patients who had diagnostic sleep studies over a 4-year period, 1660 patients (88%) underwent PSG and 238 patients (12%) underwent WatchPAT. Patients in the WatchPAT group had a shorter time to diagnosis (21 days versus 79.8 days, p < 0.001) and treatment (46.3 days versus 118.4 days, p < 0.001) compared to the PSG group. Cost-benefit calculation showed that this earlier treatment led to cost-saving of US $1179.50 per patient. CONCLUSION: An ambulatory sleep study is an option for earlier access to diagnosis and treatment of OSA with the potential of considerable cost savings.

Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Preoperative Screening Strategies for Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Patients Undergoing Elective Inpatient Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea is underdiagnosed in surgical patients. The cost-effectiveness of obstructive sleep apnea screening is unknown. This study's objective was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of preoperative obstructive sleep apnea screening (1) perioperatively and (2) including patients' remaining lifespans. METHODS: An individual-level Markov model was constructed to simulate the perioperative period and lifespan of patients undergoing inpatient elective surgery. Costs (2016 Canadian dollars) were calculated from the hospital perspective in a single-payer health system. Remaining model parameters were derived from a structured literature search. Candidate strategies included: (1) no screening; (2) STOP-Bang questionnaire alone; (3) STOP-Bang followed by polysomnography (STOP-Bang + polysomnography); and (4) STOP-Bang followed by portable monitor (STOP-Bang + portable monitor). Screen-positive patients (based on STOP-Bang cutoff of at least 3) received postoperative treatment modifications and expedited definitive testing. Effectiveness was expressed as quality-adjusted life month in the perioperative analyses and quality-adjusted life years in the lifetime analyses. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. RESULTS: In perioperative and lifetime analyses, no screening was least costly and least effective. STOP-Bang + polysomnography was the most effective strategy and was more cost-effective than both STOP-Bang + portable monitor and STOP-Bang alone in both analyses. In perioperative analyses, STOP-Bang + polysomnography was not cost-effective compared to no screening at the $4,167/quality-adjusted life month threshold (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio $52,888/quality-adjusted life month). No screening was favored in more than 90% of iterations in probabilistic sensitivity analyses. In contrast, in lifetime analyses, STOP-Bang + polysomnography was favored compared to no screening at the $50,000/quality-adjusted life year threshold (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio $2,044/quality-adjusted life year). STOP-Bang + polysomnography was favored in most iterations at thresholds above $2,000/quality-adjusted life year in probabilistic sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The cost-effectiveness of preoperative obstructive sleep apnea screening differs depending on time horizon. Preoperative screening with STOP-Bang followed by immediate confirmatory testing with polysomnography is cost-effective on the lifetime horizon but not the perioperative horizon. The integration of preoperative screening based on STOP-Bang and polysomnography is a cost-effective means of mitigating the long-term disease burden of obstructive sleep apnea.

Comparison of the Efficacy, Side Effects, and Cost of Modafinil and Intranasal Mometasone Furoate in Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome: A Preliminary Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is characterized by repeated episodes of reduction in airflow due to the collapse of the upper airway during sleep. The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcome, side effects, and cost of treatment between modafinil and intranasal mometasone furoate in patients with OSAHS. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients with OSAHS (N=250) were divided into two groups: the modafinil group (MG) (N=125) were treated with 100 mg modafinil twice a day; the intranasal mometasone furoate group (IMFG) (N=125) were treated with 100 µg of intranasal mometasone furoate in the evening. Quality of life, grading of OSAHS, plain-film radiography, the adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio (AN ratio), side effects, cost of treatment, and beneficial effects after discontinuation of treatment were evaluated for all patients. RESULTS Duration of sleep apnea was significantly reduced in the IMFG compared with the MG (p=0.0145, q=9.262). Modafinil and intranasal mometasone furoate both had moderate effects on improvement of the OSAHS score. The IMFG showed a significantly greater beneficial effect on the AN ratio when compared with the MG (p=0.0001, q=6.584). No adverse events of treatment with modafinil and intranasal mometasone furoate were reported. Cost of treatment and beneficial effect after discontinuation were both significantly greater for the IMFG compared with the MG. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this preliminary clinical study were that for patients diagnosed with OSAHS, night-time treatment with intranasal mometasone furoate was more effective than modafinil.

Positional therapy in the management of positional obstructive sleep apnea-a review of the current literature.

More than 50% of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients have worsening of their OSA in the supine position (positional obstructive sleep apnea [POSA], commonly defined as supine to non-supine apnea hypopnea index (AHI) ratio of ≥ 2). Positional therapy (PT) aims to prevent patients from sleeping in the supine position. One of the major limiting factors to the routine use of PT in clinical practice is the lack of validated tools to measure compliance objectively. Furthermore, there are no universal guidelines to determine if PT will be effective as standalone or as adjunctive therapy. This paper assesses recent literature on PT demonstrating its effectiveness in management of POSA. It also outlines the proposed subclassification systems for POSA. Electronic literature review was done on EMBASE. Since the last review of PT by Ravesloot et al. (2012), ten studies were identified which demonstrate effectiveness of PT in POSA. We found three publications proposing different subclassification systems for POSA. There were three studies validating different compliance monitoring tools for PT. One study showed the cost benefits of incorporating PT into OSA management. Positional therapy is an effective treatment for POSA and progress has been made in development of tools for measuring compliance. Creating a subclassification of POSA may help develop targeted therapy for patients and determine its use as standalone or adjunct therapy. The integration of PT into POSA management may be cost-effective when compared to the use of CPAP alone.

High-Resolution Pulse Oximetry (HRPO): A Cost-Effective Tool in Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) in Acute Stroke and Predicting Outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a well-known risk factor for stroke. This is attributed to multiple mechanisms such as endothelial dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and comorbid obesity. STOP questionnaire alone is unreliable to diagnose OSA and in-hospital sleep study is costly and can be technically challenging. We used high-resolution pulse oximetry (HRPO) to test the feasibility of screening for OSA and predicting outcome. METHODS: Data from 115 stroke patients who underwent HRPO was collected including Oxygen desaturation index (ODI) <4%, pulse rate, arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), and time spent at SaO2 saturation <88%. We also collected data on various confounders. The outcomes measured were NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale), mRS (modified Rankin Score) on discharge, and discharge disposition. RESULTS: Overall 115 patients with valid HRPO data were included in the study. Mean age was 64±12years with 68% white, 22% black, and 10% Hispanic population. Of this cohort of 115 patients, 56% were males. Of the subjects enrolled 22 had atrial fibrillation, 27 had type 2 diabetes, 7 had resistant hypertension, and 7 had patient foramen ovale. Of the 115 patients, 75 patients were found to have ODI of >10 and the mean ODI was 29±30. The NIHSS on admission was 6.14±6.93 and on discharge was 4.46±4.59, mRS on discharge was 1.70±1.67 with 52% being discharged home, 43% to rehab, 2% nursing home, and 3% to long-term acute care facility. In this study, we show a strong association between atrial fibrillation and increasing ODI (P<.001, OR 1.01, CI 1.00-1.03). In addition, our study also shows an association between discharges outcome of rehab (more deficits leading to higher disability) versus discharge to home (lesser deficits) if ODI was ≤10 (P = 0.005, OR 3.76, CI 1.49-9.52). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that there is a significant burden of OSA in acute stroke patients. ODI emerged as a predictor of atrial fibrillation and discharge disposition in our study. HRPO may be a cost-effective tool to screen and evaluate for OSA in acute stroke patients.

Obstructive sleep apnea treated with custom-made bibloc and monobloc oral appliances: a retrospective comparative study.

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this hypothesis-generating retrospective study was to compare the effect of monobloc and bibloc (Narval™) appliances on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the total cost of treatment during the first year of treatment. METHODS: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) subjects treated with a monobloc or bibloc during two different time periods were identified from medical records and data were extracted. Subjects treated with either of the appliances passed the same primary examination, follow-up visits, and follow-up polygraphic examination. A 1-year clinical follow-up was made on the bibloc group. RESULTS: The study analysis included 110 monobloc- and 55 bibloc-treated subjects with baseline mean AHI of 23 and 22, respectively. AHI responders (AHI < 10 and/or a ≥50 % reduction of baseline AHI) were seen at follow-up in 61 % of the monobloc group and 56 % of the bibloc group. The improvement of the AHI value was similar in the two groups, with mean declines of 12.7 and 13.8, respectively. The ODI (oxygen desaturation index), lowest SpO2, longest apnea, and the mean Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) score were significantly reduced by 3.1 (monobloc) and 2.2 (bibloc), i.e., at the same level for both groups. The total direct cost of treatment for a 1-year treatment was 17 % higher for the bibloc-treated subjects than for the monobloc-treated subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the monobloc and bibloc appliances are equally effective but the cost of treatment over 1 year was higher with the bibloc. However, prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to adequately test the assumption that the two treatment modalities are equally effective.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): healthcare and social costs. / La Sindrome dell 'Apnea Ostruttiva nel sonno (OSAS): I costi sanitari e sociali.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is an underdiagnosed widespread chronic disease involving both sexes and all ages. Undiagnosed and untreated OSA is associated with workplace productivity losses and significant direct and indirect medical costs. A cost analysis of OSA was carried out in Italy ten years ago. Overall OSA medical costs, largely due to treatment of comorbidity, amounted to € 2,9 billion or 55% of total medical costs. Direct medical costs, due to diagnosis and treatment of OSA, were 6% of overall OSA costs, while medical costs due to the absence of diagnosis and of prevention of comorbidities represented 49% of the overall cost. Non-medical costs made up for the remaining 45%. € 1.5 billion could be saved by promoting screening campaigns aimed at detecting OSA that would otherwise remain undiagnosed and by improving adherence to treatment. Bearing in mind the increasing OSA prevalence and the recent quantification of avoidable OSA-related road accidents, the real cost of OSA is higher than estimated up to now.

Perioperative Complications in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients Undergoing Surgery: A Review of the Legal Literature.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common in patients undergoing surgery. OSA, known or suspected, has been associated with significant perioperative adverse events, including severe neurologic injury and death. This study was undertaken to assess the legal consequences associated with poor outcomes related to OSA in the perioperative setting. METHODS: A retrospective review of the legal literature was performed by searching 3 primary legal databases between the years 1991 and 2010 for cases involving adults with known or suspected OSA who underwent a surgical procedure associated with an adverse perioperative outcome. OSA had to be directly implicated in the outcome, and surgical mishaps (i.e., uncontrolled bleeding) were excluded. The adverse perioperative outcome had to result in a lawsuit that was then adjudicated in a court of law with a final decision rendered. Data were abstracted from each case regarding patient demographics, type of surgery, type and location of adverse event, associated anesthetic and opioid use, and legal outcome. RESULTS: Twenty-four cases met the inclusion criteria. The majority (83%) occurred in or after 2007. Patients were young (average age, 41.7 years), male (63%), and had a known diagnosis of OSA (96%). Ninety-two percent of cases were elective with 33.3% considered general procedures, 37.5% were ears, nose and throat procedures for the treatment of OSA, and 29.1% were considered miscellaneous interventions. Complications occurred intraoperatively (21%), in the postanesthesia care unit (33%), and on the surgical floors (46%). The most common complications were respiratory arrest in an unmonitored setting and difficulty in airway management. Immediate adverse outcomes included death (45.6%), anoxic brain injury (45.6%), and upper airway complications (8%). Overall, 71% of the patients died, with 6 of the 11 who suffered anoxic brain injury dying at an average of 113 days later. The use of opioids and general anesthetics was believed to play a role in 38% and 58% of cases, respectively. Verdicts favored the plaintiffs in 58% of cases and the defendants in 42%. In cases favoring the plaintiff, the average financial penalty was $2.5 million (±$2.3 million; range, $650,000--$7.7 million). CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative complications related to OSA are increasingly being reported as the central contention of malpractice suits. These cases can be associated with severe financial penalties. These data likely underestimate the actual medicolegal burden, given that most such cases are settled out of court and are not accounted for in the legal literature.

A prediction model based on artificial neural networks for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND: Recently, artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been widely applied in science, engineering, and medicine. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of artificial neural networks to be used as a computer program and assistant tool in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Our hypothesis was that ANNs could use clinical information to precisely predict cases of OSA. METHOD: The study population in this clinical trial consisted of 201 patients with suspected OSA (140 with a positive diagnosis of OSA and 61 with a negative diagnosis of OSA). The artificial neural network was trained by assessing five clinical variables from 201 patients; efficiency was then estimated in this group of 201 patients. The patients were classified using a five-element input vector. ANN classifiers were assessed with the multilayer perceptron (MLP) networks. RESULTS: Use of the MLP classifiers resulted in a diagnostic accuracy of 86.6 %, which in clinical practice is high enough to reduce the number of patients evaluated by polysomnography (PSG), an expensive and limited diagnostic resource. CONCLUSIONS: By establishing a pattern that allows the recognition of OSA, ANNs can be used to identify patients requiring PSG.

Telemonitoring of CPAP therapy may save nursing time.

PURPOSE: Telemonitoring might enhance continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) adherence and save nursing time at the commencement of CPAP therapy. We tested wireless telemonitoring (ResTraxx Online System®, ResMed) during the habituation phase of the CPAP therapy in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). METHODS: In total, 111 consecutive OSAS patients were enrolled. After CPAP titration, patients were followed with the telemonitoring (TM, N = 50) or the usual care (UC, N = 61). The TM group used fixed pressure CPAP device with and the UC group similar device without wireless telemonitoring. Patients and study nurses were unblinded. The evaluated end-points were hours of CPAP use >4 h/day, mask leak <0.4 L/s, and AHI <5/h. Nursing time including extra phone calls, visits, and telemonitoring time was recorded during the habituation phase. CPAP adherence was controlled in the beginning and at the end of the habituation phase and after 1-year of use. RESULTS: TM and UC groups did not differ in terms of patient characteristics. The average length of the habituation phase was 4 weeks in the TM group and fixed 3 months in the UC group. Median nursing time was 39 min (range 12-132 min) in the TM group and shorter compared to that of 58 min (range 40-180 min) (p < 0.001) per patient in the UC group. Both treatment groups had high CPAP usage hours (>4 h/day) and the change in usage at the end of the habituation phase did not differ between the groups (p = 0.39). Patients in both groups were equally satisfied with the treatment protocol. CPAP adherence (6.4 h in TM vs. 6.1 h in UC group, p = 0.63) and residual AHI (1.3 in TM vs. 3.2 in UC group, p = 0.04) were good in both groups at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Wireless telemonitoring of CPAP treatment could be relevant in closing the gap between the increasing demand and available health-care resources. It may save nursing time without compromising short- or long-term effectiveness of CPAP treatment in OSAS.

A telehealth program for CPAP adherence reduces labor and yields similar adherence and efficacy when compared to standard of care.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effectiveness and coaching labor requirements of a web-based automated telehealth (TH) messaging program compared with standard of care (SOC) in newly diagnosed patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). METHODS: In this non-blinded, multicenter, prospective study, all patients were started on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) with heated humidification and a wireless modem. They all received standardized CPAP education and setup. Patients in the TH group (n = 58) received an automated series of text messages and/or e-mails that were triggered by preset conditions. Patients in the SOC group (n = 64) received scheduled calls on days 1, 7, 14, and 30. Additional contacts were allowed for patients in both groups as deemed clinically necessary. Coaching labor was calculated by totaling the number and type of patient contacts and assigning historical time values. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two patients were included in the final analysis. There were no statistically significant differences between the TH and SOC groups for Medicare adherence (83 vs. 73 %), daily CPAP usage (5.1 ± 1.9 h vs. 4.7 ± 2.1 h), CPAP efficacy (mean residual apnea-hypopnea index (3.0 ± 4.1/h vs. 2.8 ± 3.8/h), or change in Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (-5.8 ± 5.5 vs. -5.1 ± 5.9), although all trends favored the TH group. There was, however, a significant reduction in the number of minutes coaching required per patient in the TH vs. SOC group (23.9 ± 26 vs. 58.3 ± 25, 59 % reduction; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Use of a web-based telehealth program for CPAP adherence coaching significantly reduced the coaching labor requirement compared with SOC, while maintaining similar adherence and effectiveness.

Role of primary care in the follow-up of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea undergoing CPAP treatment: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether follow-up of patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) undergoing CPAP treatment could be performed in primary care (PC) settings. DESIGN: Non-inferiority, randomised, prospective controlled study. SETTINGS: Sleep unit (SU) at the University Hospital and in 8 PC units in Lleida, Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with OSA were randomised to be followed up at the SU or PC units over a 6-month period. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURED: The primary outcome was CPAP compliance at 6 months. The secondary outcomes were Epworth Sleep Scale (ESS) score, EuroQoL, patient satisfaction, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure and cost-effectiveness. RESULTS: We included 101 patients in PC ((mean±SD) apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) 50.8±22.9/h, age 56.2±11 years, 74% male) and 109 in the SU (AHI 51.4±24.4/h, age 55.8±11 years, 77% male)). The CPAP compliance was (mean (95% CI) 4.94 (4.47 to 5.5) vs 5.23 (4.79 to 5.66) h, p=0.18) in PC and SU groups, respectively. In the SU group, there were greater improvements in ESS scores (mean change 1.79, 95% CI +0.05 to +3.53, p=0.04) and patient satisfaction (-1.49, 95% CI -2.22 to -0.76); there was a significant mean difference in BMI between the groups (0.57, 95% CI +0.01 to +1.13, p=0.04). In the PC setting, there was a cost saving of 60%, with similar effectiveness, as well as a decrease in systolic blood pressure (-5.32; 95% CI -10.91 to +0.28, p=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: For patients with OSA, treatment provided in a PC setting did not result in worse CPAP compliance compared with a specialist model and was shown to be a cost-effective alternative. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Clinical Trials NCT01918449.

Exploring policy driven systemic inequities leading to differential access to care among Indigenous populations with obstructive sleep apnea in Canada.

BACKGROUND: In settler societies such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, health inequities drive lower health status and poorer health outcomes in Indigenous populations. This research unravels the dense complexity of how historical policy decisions in Canada can influence inequities in health care access in the 21(st) century through a case study on the diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In Canada, historically rooted policy regimes determine current discrepancies in health care policy, and in turn, shape current health insurance coverage and physician decisions in terms of diagnosis and treatment of OSA, a clinical condition that is associated with considerable morbidity in Canada. METHODS: This qualitative study was based in Saskatchewan, a Western Canadian province which has proportionately one of the largest provincial populations of an Indigenous subpopulation (status Indians) which is the focus of this study. The study began with determining approaches to OSA care provision based on Canadian Thoracic Society guidelines for referral, diagnosis and treatment of sleep disordered breathing. Thereafter, health policy determining health benefits coverage and program differences between status Indians and other Canadians were ascertained. Finally, respirologists who specialized in sleep medicine were interviewed. All interviews were audio-recorded and the transcripts were thematically analyzed using NVIVO. RESULTS: In terms of access and provision of OSA care, different patient pathways emerged for status Indians in comparison with other Canadians. Using Saskatchewan as a case study, the preliminary evidence suggests that status Indians face significant barriers in accessing diagnostic and treatment services for OSA in a timely manner. CONCLUSIONS: In order to confirm initial findings, further investigations are required in other Canadian jurisdictions. Moreover, as other clinical conditions could share similar features of health care access and provision of health benefits coverage, this policy analysis could be replicated in other provincial and territorial health care systems across Canada, and other settler nations where there are differential health coverage arrangements for Indigenous peoples.