Long-term CPAP Use in Sleep Apnea Patients Shows Declining Persistence Over Time

A study titled Awair found that 83.5% of French adults using CPAP persisted after one year, with daily use increasing to 6.5 hours by year five.

Study on CPAP use in France

A study titled Awair followed 84,550 adults in France who started using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) between 2019 and 2023 in real-life settings. CPAP is a common treatment for sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep.

Persistence with CPAP over time

The study found that persistence with CPAP use reached 83.5% at one year and 60.5% at five years. This indicates that most users continue the treatment for at least one year, though the rate decreases slightly over time.

Daily use of CPAP increases

Daily use of CPAP increased, going from 5.4 hours per day in the first year (with 68% of users spending more than 4 hours per day on it) to 6.5 hours per day at five years (with 86% of users spending more than 4 hours per day). This suggests that users are gradually using the device for longer periods as time passes.

Implications for sleep apnea treatment

The findings highlight the importance of long-term adherence to CPAP therapy for managing sleep apnea effectively. The increase in daily use over time may indicate that users become more comfortable with the device and recognize its benefits for their health.