Changes in Positive Airway Pressure Use in Adults with Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic:...

To better understand: (i) a positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy use during the pandemic, (ii) how PAP use may relate to sleep, health, and COVID-19-related outcomes, and (iii) factors associated with PAP use during the pandemic.

This study is based on data collected between Apr 2020 and Jan 2021 as part of an online cross-sectional national community-based survey. The included participants were located in North America, 18 years and older, with self-reported sleep-related breathing disorder (SBD) and usage of a PAP device in the last month before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of all respondents, 7.2% (41/570) stopped using PAP during the pandemic over a median time since the pandemic declaration of 62.0 days (IQR = 8.0). There were no significant differences between individuals who continued and stopped using PAP in the time elapsed since the pandemic declaration, age, sex, education level, occupational status, family income, or the proportions of individuals endorsing symptoms that could be related to COVID-19. Compared to individuals who continued using PAP, those who stopped had significantly shorter sleep time, lower sleep efficiency, and poorer sleep quality. Higher stress levels and living with someone who experienced symptoms that could be attributable to COVID-19 were independently associated with stopping PAP use.

In this survey study, most individuals with SBD continued PAP therapy during the pandemic. However, even 7% of participants who stopped using PAP cannot be ignored. Identifying individuals at risk of discontinuing PAP treatment may help design targeted interventions for people with SBD and health professionals to improve PAP use.