Factors Affecting Pressure Change Requirement in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients under Positive Airway Pressure Therapy

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a chronic disease characterized by recurrent apnea and daytime sleepiness. The effect of weight or symptom change on the ideal positive airway pressure (PAP) change in regular users of PAP therapy is unknown. This study investigated the effect of weight or symptom change on an ideal PAP change in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea. Materials and Methods: Fifty-eight patients who were diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea by polysomnography, titration polysomnography determined PAP and PAP treatment was started, and retitrated polysomnography was performed due to weight change or obstructive sleep apnea symptoms while under PAP treatment for at least six months was included in the study. Weight changes, ongoing symptoms, and data from all three polysomnography results were recorded. Results: There was no difference in the effect of the weight change on ideal PAP. In the persistence of symptoms, PAP change was higher. Conclusion: Weight gain, loss, or being the same weight did not affect PAP change. However, PAP change was more common in symptom persistence under PAP treatment.