CPAP Compliance in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Article

CPAP Compliance in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome - Article Example For instance, most individuals that undergo treatment have trouble with the machine and masks used during treatment, thus many individuals with sleep apnea often want to avoid the treatment, although the first few weeks of the treatment are usually vital. Therefore, this issue is something that must be studied with further analysis. Thus, the researchers state their hypothesis as such: "In this study, we aimed to evaluate, prospectively, the factors affecting adherence to the CPAP treatment and the correlations of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), oxygen desaturation index (OD), arousal index (RI), the lowest oxygen saturation (LO), and the body mass index (BMI) with each other, in patients with OSAS" (Yetkin, Kunter & Gunen, 2008, p. 365). The researchers then proceed with a very clear presentation of their study, discussing the methods in some detail. The article does a fantastic job of defining the size of the sample, discussing inclusion criteria, sample inclusion criteria, comparability, confounding variables, and also mentions how the subjects were assignment to groups. The authors clearly state: "Seventy-one patients were enrolled to this study. Patients were divided into three groups according to CPAP usage. Group I consisted of patients who had never used CPAP, group II consisted of patients who had used CPAP occasionally, and group-III patients had used CPAP treatment regularly. Group-III patients had higher apnea- hypopnea index (AHI) than groups I and II (respectively, Oxygen desaturation index was significantly higher in group-III patients comparing to groups I and II" (Yetkin, Kunter & Gunen, 2008, p. 366). There is also more information provided by the researchers. They state: "After 3 months, the patien ts were asked about how good they had adhered to the CPAP treatment. Then, the patients were divided into three groups according to CPAP usage ratio. Group I consisted of patients who had never used CPAP (n=23), group II consisted of patients who had used CPAP occasionally (n=24), and group-III patients had used CPAP treatment regularly (n=24). By definition, patients who did not use CPAP each and every day of the 3 months period without a valid or acceptable reason (overnight travel, CPAP device dysfunction, etc.) were classified into the group II." (Yetkin, Kunter & Gunen, 2008, p. 366). While this information is presented clearly, there are some issues that are not mentioned in the study. There is no mention of convenience and randomization of the sample, but considering the circumstances of the study, this was probably not necessary. Demographics are also not discussed, but may also not have contributed much to the study since the focus is on a particular disease. Variables are not very clearly defined, however, and this would have added to the clarity of the study. There is also no mention of potential sources of sample bias, or strengths and weaknesses of sample characteristics. This is another flaw in this study that could have contributed, and provided more information about the disease itself. As for assessment design and characteristics, the study does state the outcome to be studied-basically the adherence to CPAP treatment. The length of