Continuous positive airway pressure titration for obstructive sleep apnoea: automatic versus manual titration.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Manual laboratory continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is costly, time intensive and delays access to treatment. Automatic positive airway pressure (APAP) titration has the potential to reduce cost and improve access to treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical efficacy and costs of APAP titration compared with manual titration in moderate-severe OSA.

METHODS: Patients with moderate-severe OSA (apnoea/hypopnoea index >15 and Epworth Sleepiness Score > or = 8) who were free of co-morbidities that could impair APAP titration were eligible. 249 participants were randomised to manual titration, home APAP or laboratory APAP titration to determine a fixed pressure for CPAP. Clinical and direct cost outcomes were assessed after 4 weeks of treatment.

RESULTS: Average nightly CPAP use, subjective sleepiness, SF36 quality of life, Trails A and B cognitive function and polysomnographic outcomes were similar among the per-protocol groups. Non-hypertensive patients had a lower resting heart rate (and greater reduction in heart rate) at 4 weeks after laboratory APAP titration compared with home APAP titration. Costs per patient were highest in manual (AU$817.84), followed by laboratory (AU$647.56) and home (AU$132.09) APAP titration. An intention-to-treat analysis confirmed the effectiveness of APAP titration compared with manual titration in the standard clinical setting.

CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with moderate-severe OSA without serious co-morbidities, outcomes at 1 month indicate that APAP titration is more cost-effective than manual laboratory titration to determine an appropriate pressure for CPAP for long-term use; with the largest savings occurring in the home APAP patients.