Up to 30% of patients with sleep apnea do not meet treatment.

-16 March, world day of the dream

-sleep apnea is a chronic condition that can lead to diseases such as hypertension, arrhythmias, stroke, heart disease or type II diabetes untreated, and is responsible for a high rate of traffic accidents, by daytime sleepiness produced by

– no treatment medical costs are estimated at United States in $ 3.4 billion a year, while the total impact is much greater due to indirect costs such as loss of productivity, accidents and disability

-treatment with CPAP (positive air pressure in the airway) effectively eliminates the symptoms and improves the quality of life of patients; a good education and information to the patient on treatment alternatives, as well as a proper follow-up are keys to improving adherence

Spain, April 2012.- (SHAHS) sleep apnea syndrome is characterized by repeated episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep that causes small shortness and prevents the correct oxigenacióblood n. As a result, patients suffer from fatigue and daytime sleepiness as well as electrolite serious disorders. It is a relevant due to its high prevalence disease that affects between 4% and 6% of middle-aged men and between 2% and 4% of women in the same age bracket, and also to the deterioration of the quality of life of patients and their direct impact on their life expectancy.

The application of continuous pressure on the airway through a nasal mask, during the hours of sleep, what we know as CPAP, is the treatment of choice for the majority of patients with SHAHS.

Sleep apnea is a loss of quality of life due to sleepiness that generates; and therefore much limits the activity of patients. CPAP therapy can improve symptoms and, therefore, the capacity and activity of patients and, in turn, extend the life expectancy of the same ”, explains Dr. Joaquín Teran, pulmonologist and coordinator of the dream area of SEPAR.

Up to 30% of patients fail therapy

However, treatment with CPAP, still effective, safe, simple, non-invasive, and valid for between 70 and 80% of patients, incorporates a strange element ” in an everyday activity such as sleep. The adaptation of the devices, the flow of air and the masks to the needs and realities of each patient since the beginning of the treatment is essential. If this does not occur, the use of the CPAP can generate discomfort that eventually reduce the adherence or even result in the abandonment of the treatment, and therefore, a return to the negative consequences for the quality of life and health of the patient with sleep apnea. Patients, often ignorant of the options, not consult your doctor to look for alternatives

currently, CPAP technology detects the inspirations and the espiraciones providing just pressure in every breathing moment; monitors the breathing and can recognize if it suffers from other more complex respiratory disorders; detects the temperature and humidity of the bedroom in a way that the device brings to the airflow humidity that the patient needs in each case; It stores all the information obtained from the use of the device which allows the clinician more individualized management of treatment. Also, much progress has been made in the development of Adaptive masks to physiological characteristics, preferences or needs of each patient

A classroom Respira to learn to live with Apnea and sleep with CPAP

to the problems which this disease causes for those affected and on the occasion of the world day of sleepthe Spanish society of Pneumology and surgery thoracic (SEPAR), with the collaboration of Philips Respironics, has organized a session classroom Respira in 19 hospitals in Spanish area on the sleep apnea, especially focused on patients to help them better understand their disease and facilitate the use of CPAP. All Spain involved around 800 patients

El Aula Respira entitled Apnea, ronco and I have dream. adherence to CPAP therapy ” has had an eminently practical character and through testimonials videos tried to explain better both patients and their caregivers (who often are those who discover disease because of the snoring and shortness of your partner) cómo affects the disease to their daily lives and how treatment with CPAP improves quickly the symptoms and allows you to recover the pace of normal life. However, treatment requires some time to get to sleep with the CPAP device. Classroom Respira offered some tips for adapting to the treatment but the goal is whatever patients participants at the meeting who explain their experience and encourage other participants to ask your questions and resolve your concerns.

Adherence to treatment is key to their effectiveness. Therefore, properly adjust the pressure and humidity of the air at night and provide a mask that allows a comfortable rest, are key to the acceptance of treatment ” – explains Salvador Diaz Lobato, Coordinator of SEPAR patients – currently, there are alternatives that fit each mask pressure, in addition to masks which are arranged to the physical characteristics of each patient with humidifiers systems, as well as more advanced devices that monitors the breathing and detect when this becomes more difficult, adapting the airflow to every situation. this, along with a close doctor-patient relationship / caregiver, improve the comfort of the patient and therefore adherence to treatment, for as soon as possible an improvement in symptoms and quality of life ”, adds.

The Respira classrooms represent a space of encounter between doctors and patients, who generate a participatory and dynamic point where patients can share testimonials and experiences with others in order to inform and answer questions in a personal, direct and effective way.

The effectiveness of treatment in relation to its cost is positive

the experts consider that the costs of the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with SHAHS have assessed in relation to the reduction of cardiovascular morbidity.

It is estimated that the cost of the treatment of a patient with SHAHS round the 358 €. This amount is negligible if we take into account the reduction of costs by the cardio complications and strokes that can lead to the no-tratamiento this type of patient life expectancy is affected as a result of cardiovascular risk; that blood pressure figures increase leading to an increase in the relative risk of stroke and ischemic heart disease.

Doubts about the relationship cost/efficiency that exists around the use of CPAP treatment and who can stop their use, are due in large part to still lacking research carried out in our environment. To such methods will become common tools in economic evaluations of our country the problem will be resolved ”, says Dr. Teran, which adds: this means that different health services should integrate cutting-edge studies on the cost and effectiveness in decision-making with respect to health interventions ”.

Really significant progress in the improvement of methods of diagnosis and treatment of the respiratory sleep disorders, such as the simplification of procedures of diagnosis and treatment with CPAP to reduce the risk associated with cerebrovascular or cardiovascular morbidities and improve social functioning and other consequences of the disease. However, despite this progress, this type of disorders are infradiagnosticados or not treated, especially among high-risk groups, such as patients with cerebrovascular morbidities and cardiovascular.