Depression may reduce adherence during CPAP titration trial

Depression is a risk factor for medication non-compliance. We aimed to identify if depression is associated with poorer adherence during home-based autotitrating continuous positive airway pressure (autoPAP) titration.

Mixed retrospective-observational study.

Academic center.

Two-hundred forty continuous positive airway pressure-naïve obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients.

Patients underwent approximately 1 week of home-based autoPAP titration with adherence data downloaded from the device. Electronic hospital records were reviewed in a consecutive manner for inclusion. Three areas of potential predictors were examined: (i) demographics and clinical factors, (ii) disease severity, and (iii) device-related variables. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Scores on the subscales were categorized as normal or clinical diagnoses of depression (≥ 8) and anxiety (≥ 11). The primary outcome variable was the mean hours of autoPAP used per night.

Patients were diagnosed with OSA by either attended polysomnography (n = 73, AHI 25.5[15.1-41.5]) or unattended home oximetry (n = 167, ODI3 34.0[22.4-57.4]) and had home-based autoPAP titration over 6.2 ± 1.2 nights. Mean autoPAP use was 4.5 ± 2.4 hours per night. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that depression and lower 95(th) percentile pressures significantly predicted lesser hours of autoPAP use (R(2) = 0.19, p < 0.001). Significantly milder OSA in those requiring lower pressures may have confounded the relationship between 95(th) percentile pressure and autoPAP use.

Depression was independently associated with poorer adherence during home-based autoPAP titration. Depression may be a potential target for clinicians and future research aimed at enhancing adherence to autoPAP therapy.