Early Telemedicine to Promote Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Adherence

Obstructive sleep apnea can have consequences such as cardiovascular disease and motor vehicle accidents. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard treatment, but nonadherence limits efficacy. This project used a telemedicine strategy that included remote adherence monitoring and telephone communication from a nurse practitioner in the first week of CPAP therapy to promote adherence. Of patients who received the telemedicine, 71% were adherent at follow-up. Incorporating telemedicine into clinical practice may promote adherence to CPAP therapy. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.