Short-term positive airway pressure therapy response in obstructive sleep apnea patients: impact of treatment on the quality of life.

Introduction: We aimed to assess the compliance of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients of whom we planned positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy by using "Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index (SAQLI)","Epworth Sleepiness Score (ESS)","OSAS Symptoms Questionnaire (OSQ)" and, to investigate the early effects of treatment on the quality of life.

Patients And Methods: A total of 30 adult (male/female: 23/7) OSA patients who applied to Sleep Research Laboratory at the University Hospital, complaining of symptoms related to sleep and polysomnographically verified as OSAS with PAP therapy indications were included to the study. Their written consent were obtained.

Results: Characteristics of the patients, OSAS symptoms, ESS and SAQLI sores were recorded. After a month, on the second visit, ESS, SAQLI and OSAS symptoms questionnaire had been repeated. All the patients have routinely used PAP devices for a period of a month. PAP therapy provided significant improvements in excessive daytime sleepiness, symptoms questionnaire and SAQLI scores (p< 0.001). There was a significant correlation between apnea hypopnea index (AHI) score and the improvements in emotional functioning (r = -0.374, p= 0.045).

Conclusion: We concluded that the OSA patients can have remarkable benefits from PAP therapy during the early treatment period. This study increased the awareness of the patients about their illness and their perceived benefits related to PAP treatment. Emotional functioning improved prominantly as the disease's severity increased.