Effect of cloud-based sleep coaches on positive airway pressure adherence

Decreased early positive airway pressure (PAP) adherence is predictive of poor long-term adherence. We hypothesized that cloud-based sleep coaches (CBSC) providing protocol-driven live telephone contact with patients starting treatment would improve early adherence.

At PAP set-up patients were randomized to: (1) standard care (SC) including respiratory therapist PAP setup, wireless adherence monitoring, and elective use of a mobile adherence feedback application (PAPapp); or (2) SC+CBSC. Primary 3-month endpoints were adherence (all nights, nights used, % of nights ≥ 4 hours use, and % participants with ≥ 4 hours use on ≥ 70% of nights [% ≥ 4 ≥ 70%]) and secondary endpoints were change in Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) and satisfaction with treatment and PAPapp use.

Two hundred fifty participants were randomized (SC 126, SC+CBSC 124). Characteristics SC versus SC+CBSC (mean ± SD) for age (55.2 ± 13.4 versus 54.9 ± 11.5 years), diagnostic apnea-hypopnea index (36.7 ± 21.1 versus 36.6 ± 20.6 events/h), and ESS (10.8 ± 6.1 versus 11.2 ± 6.0) did not differ. At 3 months, the % of days with ≥ 4 hours of PAP use (SC: 48.1 ± 36.8% versus SC+CBSC: 57.9 ± 35.4%, P = 0.032), use all nights (SC:3.7 ± 2.7 hours versus SC + CBSC: 4.4 ± 2.6 hours, P=0.027), and PAPapp use satisfaction were greater with SC+CBSC (intention to treat analysis). The [% ≥ 4 ≥ 70%] did not differ between groups in the intention to treat analysis but was higher in those completing CBSC interventions. The ESS improvement and patient satisfaction did not differ between groups.

The CBSC system improved PAP adherence at 3 months.

Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Title: ThErapy Adherence Management in Veterans; Identifier: NCT03243487; URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03243487.