Association between the Monthly Visit Behavior and CPAP Adherence in OSAS Patients

Objective Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) causes multiple breathing interruptions during sleep and increases mortality if left untreated. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy improves the prognosis of OSAS; however, patient adherence is often poor. This study investigated the relationship between monthly hospital visits and CPAP adherence to CPAP therapy in patients with OSAS. Methods We studied 119 patients (93 men and 26 women) at the Minami Kyoto Hospital between June 2022 and May 2023. CPAP adherence was measured daily. Hospital/clinic visits were categorized as "Last minute visits at the end of the month" (≥25th of the month) and analyzed in relation to CPAP adherence. Results The average duration of CPAP use duration were 5 h, 47 min, and 43 s. Patients visiting on or after the 25th of month had significantly lower CPAP use (4 h, 17 min, 05 s) compared to those visiting before the 25th of month (6 h, 01 min, 47 s, p=0.003). No significant correlation was found between the visit frequency and adherence to CPAP therapy, with a lower visit frequency unexpectedly corresponding to longer CPAP use (p=0.04). Conclusion The timing of monthly clinic visits significantly affected CPAP adherence, with late-month visits associated with poorer adherence. Visit frequency showed no clear correlation with adherence, suggesting that other factors may have influenced CPAP use. Further supportive interventions can enhance adherence and improve the treatment outcomes.