Compliance

[dravidio]

Does anyone else have the problem that I do with the term "compliance"? To me it smacks of "YOU WILL USE CPAP OR ELSE!" I am not convinced yet of the benefits. It appears that the therapy was instigated in Australia in the 1980s at one of the hospitals in Sydney. I am intrigued to wonder how blowing air up your nose was conceived as a solution to apnea? I admit to not having read the initial studies. The fact that playing the didgeridoo is a therapy makes me wonder if this is an Antipodean conspiracy. I must feed my Koala some more eucalyptus leaves.

Well England have won the Ashes so this may be a victory of sortsl....

[GrumpyBiker]

The term compliance is fairly common when descibing adherence to therapy. In our case however, it is deeper. If you are compliant, you get to keep your driving licence, if you are non-compliant you have to surrender it to the DVLA.

Andy

[James @ Intus]

The NHS apparently call "4 hours use a night" compliant. Regardless of whether you get on or not. Each will have their own targets. Some hardcore users with their own APAPs and means to read the stats aim to get below 3 AHI left.

"Mechanically" the idea of CPAP is very sound. In principle, with the right diagnosis, it's 100% effective. Pressurized air keeps the airway open like a car jack, a splint. The patient then breathes by himself without obstruction. There's no doubt it works technically so you can skip the 143,000 clinical research articles, unless of course, you have plenty of time and willpower to read the mumbo-jumbo jargon!

Sure, there are other ways to treat OSA and not everybody can eventually tolerate CPAP but for moderate to severe OSA(S) it's still the preferred method or as they say, the gold standard treatment.

[dravidio]

Thanks for the link to the articles.

I'd better start on them.....

[dravidio]

Not entirely joking! I do have a background in academic (though not medical) research - and though the details of the science might elude me on occasions - it is usually only necessary to look at the abstract of a research paper to see what the headline news is. I might also draw conclusions about the study based on its methodology, number and suitability of subjects , control of variables, collection of data and statistical analysis. I don't doubt the efficacy of CPAP - but I am curious to learn more and don't necessarily trust second hand opinions and perceived wisdom.

[James @ Intus]

I like your style!

Drawing your own conclusions beats regurgitating that of others by a mile. It's also fund if you do ever walk into a sleep clinic and "load up your guns" to blow them away. They won't be sending you home with pre-used bit of 80's kit then.

It is surprising indeed how they can make headlines with a study based on 6 random people. But you'll find plenty of studies running into the hundreds if not > 1000 subjects. An academic background sure helps sifting the good bits from the boring parts.

Of course you are welcome to share your thoughts in threads here.