Independent Role of Nasal Congestion in Positive Airway Pressure Compliance for OSA Treatment

Abstract

Objective

To determine the independent role of nasal congestion in positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy compliance and factors associated with an unfavorable shift of PAP compliance.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary care center.

Methods

This follow-up study comprised 174 patients with newly diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) who accepted PAP therapy from January 2017 to June 2019. Information was collected on basic demographics, comorbidities, sleep-related symptoms, nasal symptoms, and upper airway assessment. PAP adherence data were collected at the end of the first week and the third month.

Results

After 3 months of follow-up, 147 participants were included for final data analysis. The proportion of nasal congestion (29.2% vs 52.0%, P = .005) and its severity (mean rank, 58.5 vs 75.1; P = .007) were significantly higher in the noncompliance group as compared with the compliance group. After adjustment for basic demographics, comorbidities, sleep-related symptoms or sleep study parameters, and Friedman clinical staging, multinomial logistic regression models showed that nasal congestion (all odds ratios >2.0, P < .05) was independently associated with a higher odds of PAP noncompliance. Patients with an unfavorable shift of PAP compliance were younger (mean ± SD, 47.5 ± 10.6 vs 53.1 ± 12.6 years; P = .021) and had a lower body mass index (27.2 ± 3.7 vs 29.3 ± 5.0, P = .027) than those who consistently complied. OSA severity was associated with PAP compliance, initially and in the long term.

Conclusion

Nasal congestion is an independent predictor of PAP noncompliance. Younger patients with lower BMI were more likely to have an unfavorable shift of PAP compliance. Initial and long-term adherence to PAP therapy was affected by OSA severity.