Objective: To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) and adverse side effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in Thai patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Material and Methods: The present study was conducted at Siriraj Hospital by reviewing medical records, symptoms questionnaire, functional outcomes of sleep questionnaire (FOSQ), and Epworth sleepiness scales (ESS) of adult OSA patients who were treated with CPAP between November 2010 and June 2017. Patients who failed to follow-up or had incomplete questionnaires were excluded.

Results: Data of 135 OSA patients, which included 99 males and 36 females with a mean age of 50.2±11.1, apnea-hypopnea index of 48.8±30.2 events per hour, and follow-up time of 50.6 months with a range of 13 to 79 months, were recruited. There were 57 patients or 42.2% using fixedpressure CPAP and 78 patients or 57.8% using auto-adjusting CPAP. A statistically significant improvement in scores of all FOSQ subscales, global FOSQ, and ESS were found after CPAP therapy (p<0.05). Good treatment adherence through self-reported data was found in 123 patients or 91.1% at approximately three months and 97 patients or 71.9% after more than one year follow-up. The most common reported side effects of CPAP were mask discomfort at 60%, nose congestion at 47.4%, and dry mouth at 40%. However, these side effects were mostly mild to moderate and tolerable.

Conclusion: CPAP therapy can significantly improve QOL of Thai patients with OSA who continuously use it in both the short-term and long-term. However, side effects are common especially mask discomfort and nasal congestion in short-term.

Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea; Quality of life; Continuous positive airway pressure; CPAP; Side effects; Thai

DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2022.11.13689

Received 18 October 2021 | Revised 24 August 2022 | Accepted 5 September 2022