Survey of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Use in Korea

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Positive airway pressure (PAP) is the most effective treatment tool for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), however adherence rate of PAP is known to be very low. The objective of this study is to investigate the adherence rate of PAP in Korea. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We reviewed sales data from a PAP vendor. OSA patients who were referred to this vendor had a chance to experience PAP for a month. After that, patients were supposed to buy PAP or return it. We investigate the rate of patients who bought PAP, and asked the patients who had bought it whether they are still using it or not. We asked the reason to the patients who are not using it anymore. RESULTS: Among 724 OSA patients who used PAP for one month, 256 patients bought PAP and others refused it. We could survey 190 patients among 256 who had bought PAP. Among them, 34 patients did not use PAP anymore. The rest 156 patients said that they are still using it. CONCLUSION: Contrary to our expectation, only a small number of obstructive sleep apnea patients use it. We must be cautious when to prescribe PAP to obstructive sleep apnea patients.