Barriers to acceptance and adherence to continuous positive airway pressure therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a report from Kermanshah province, western Iran

Figures & data

Table 1 Participant baseline characteristics

Variable	M (SD)
Age (years)	48.76 (12.04)
Gender (female)	18.6%
BMI (kg/m^2)	30.96 (5.07)
ESS	9.09 (4.84)
AHI	36.06 (1.87)
Follow-up (months)	30.54 (1.56)
CPAP use duration (months)	24.66 (1.68)

Abbreviations: AHI, apnea/hypopnea index; BMI, body mass index; CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; ESS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale.

Table 2 Group characteristics and between-group differences

Variable	Nonacceptance	Poor adherence	Adherent	P-values
Number of patients, n (%)	70 (72.2)	5 (5.2)	22 (22.7)	N/A
Gender (male/female), n	57/13	5/0	17/5	0.498
Age (years)	48.71 (12.33)	50.40 (17.14)	51.14 (5.35)	0.673
BMI (kg/m^2)	30.71 (4.91)	31.08 (5.0)	31.70 (5.91)	0.729
ESS	9.26 (4.85)	8.0 (6.48)	8.71 (4.74)	0.815
AHI	35.72 (18.13)	42.98 (10.62)	37.96 (20.09)	0.659
Follow-up month	25.87 (13.70)	31.20 (18.19)	28.0 (15.52)	0.638
CPAP use duration (months)	0	19.80 (20.0)	25.94 (16.34)	0.481

Note: Data shown as mean (SD) unless indicated otherwise.

Abbreviations: AHI, apnea/hypopnea index; BMI, body mass index; CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure; ESS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale; N/A, not applicable.

Table 3 Reasons for non-/poor adherence

Reason	N		N	Percentage
	Nonacceptance	Poor adherence
Unable to afford CPAP	40	0	40	53.33
Symptom improvement without CPAP	10	2	12	16.00
Advised by other physicians not to use	8	0	8	10.66
Unable to tolerate device	5	0	5	6.66
Nightly use too frequent	1	0	1	1.33
Unsure how to use device	3	1	4	5.33
Not satisfied with CPAP treatment	0	2	2	2.66
Plan to undergo surgery	1	0	1	1.33
Fear of social judgment	2	0	2	2.66

Abbreviation: CPAP, continuous positive airway pressure.