CPAP Usage: The Risk

[Sparticus]

Has there ever been a report of the risk of a "Night Off" Its stated that cpap lowers risk of heart attacks and strokes not to mention a better health all-round but I would like to know if there is any facts to say that it is dangerous to have a night off. Having a mega busy lifestyle with full-time work and being a carer, there are times that I dont get a chance to put my mask on as Im asleep before falling into bed. Also what about nodding off in the chair? I would like to know from anyone including Intus if there has ever been studies done to ascertain the facts of such actions.

Spart.

[Tom @ Intus]

Generally, if you use CPAP, then you most likely have "pure" OSA. Meaning you have OSA, but no other related health conditions such as heart or lung function problems.

So a night without isn't particularly dangerous. You'll likely feel a bit rubbish waking up but you're unlikely to be putting yourself in any real danger. Prolonged CPAP abstainance however is a different story.

Some are surprised how they immediately feel tired again with one night away from CPAP, but I saw one analogy comparing it to water. You can drink water every day for as long as you want, but one day without and you'll become dehydrated. Same with CPAP; however many nights you have with it, one without and your tiredness will return.

Not everybody has the tiredness, but if you had it before CPAP then you can likely expect it to return, along with any other symptoms you may have experienced prior to CPAP. CPAP does not cure, it simply prevents, so without it you'll be straight back to square one.

Untreated OSA does increase the risk of heart problems, hypertension, stroke etc, but this is over a prolonged period of time. An occasional night here and there is unlikely to have severe consequences.

If you're using a BiPAP or ventilator, then it may be more serious, but generally CPAP is for those without major health problems and one night here and there is unlikely to have serious health implications.

[Tom @ Intus]

Just a quickie, there have been studies into exactly this topic. I've not read them myself yet but just in case you'd like to have a read yourself;

Effects of one night without nasal CPAP treatment on sleep and sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Effects of Short-Term CPAP Withdrawal on Neurobehavioral Performance in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Indications and Standards for Use of Nasal CPAP in Sleep Apnea Syndromes - not specific to the subject but has the finding that "In the most recent study of 30 days of CPAP use, even one night without treatment was associated with immediate return to pretreatment levels & sleepiness and psychomotor vigilance".

[Sparticus]

Thanks for that Tom, made for intresting reading although the result was as I thought. I slept for 2 weeks on holiday without cpap and felt fantastic. Felt better than I was at home with cpap. Sounds like somethings not right? When you see that Im a nightshift worker and a carer during the day things start to look not as straight forward and some days I can get only 4 hours sleep. So how do you seperate it all to find out whats what? It can get quite confusing at times when I go without my machine one day and feel better than if I was wearing it but then I have to check the hours I have slept to see if its because Ive slept longer. I no longer worry about going the odd night or day without my machine and reading the reports it seems that the risk is minimal.