Introduction:

Treatment with positive pressure may cause adverse effects. In order to know the compliance and intolerance profile, we analyzed the behaviors established by physiotherapists of a Sleep Unit.

Materials and Methods:

Observational, retrospective, cross-sectional study. We included patients older than 18 years with positive pressure referred to the kinesiological consultation.

Results:

244 patients were evaluated during four years: 165 men (67%), age 65.7 ± 11.6 years, BMI (Body Mass Index) 31.0 ± 5.4 (kg/m2), 61% of which used fixed CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure), 29% auto-adjusting CPAP, 8% bilevel devices, 147 (60%) nasal masks, 52 (21%) oronasal masks; 37 pads (15%), and 92 (36%) thermohumidifiers.

Reasons for consultation were: therapy control, 239 (61%); intolerance, 67 (17%), and calibration, 51 (13%).

Compliance (hours/night) was 4.61 ± 2.1, with a percentage of nights > 4 hours of 67 ± 36%. We didn’t find any difference in the com pliance of the first and the second year (4.5 vs. 5.0 hours/night) p > 0.13, but the value was higher after 600 days of therapy (p < 0.05).

141 patients (57%) showed some complications, the most frequent being leaks (19%) or intolerance to the masks (10%). 97% of the patients resolved the intolerance with 194 behaviors: explanation of how to use the mask, 94 (48%); calibration, 44 (22%); information, 45 (23%); titration, 13 (6%), and referral to the pulmonologist, 14 (7%).

Conclusions:

Two thirds of the patients complied with the positive pressure treatment and half of the patients showed intolerance. The specialized kinesiological consultation can contribute to the identification and resolution of difficulties that may arise during therapy.

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