Board-certified Sleep Specialists Provide Better Sleep Apnea Care

New research in the March 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine suggests that patients with obstructive sleep apnea who are treated by board-certified sleep specialists have improved adherence to therapy. The most common treatment of sleep apnea is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which remains the gold standard to cure the condition. This treatment can sometimes require accommodations to make it more comfortable, however. If early interventions are not made when problems arise, patients are less likely to continue using it. The study, "A Multicenter Prospective Comparative Effectiveness Study of the Effect of Physician Certification and Center Accreditation on Patient-Centered Outcomes in Obstructive Sleep Apnea," assessed 502 patients with sleep apnea at four sleep centers. Participants received an objective diagnostic evaluation using overnight polysomnography and completed validated questionnaires. Objective CPAP therapy adherence was measured 3 months after therapy initiation. The findings demonstrated that sleep apnea patients who are cared for by board-certified physicians and accredited sleep centers were two times more likely to be compliant. Patient satisfaction and timeliness of care were also associated with these factors. "We have demonstrated under real-world conditions that sleep center accreditation and sleep medicine board certification are important determinants of patient-centered quality metrics such as adhere...
Source: About Sleep Disorders - Category: Sleep Medicine Source Type: news