Effect of healthcare benefits on short‐term adherence of positive airway pressure therapy. (27th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lim, Taehun; Lim, Sung Hwan; Koo, Beom Mo; Hwang, Junho; Oh, Joo Hyung; Rhee, Jihye; Park, Pona
• Is Part Of: Clinical respiratory journal. Volume 15:Number 7(2021)
• Page Start: 735
• Page End: 740
• Publication Date: 2021-03-27
• Subjects: insurance coverage -- obstructive sleep apnea -- patient adherence -- positive airway pressure; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiratory organs -- Periodicals; 616.24
• DOI: 10.1111/crj.13355
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-6981

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of healthcare benefits on adherence to positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. Methods: Medical records of OSA patients at the Veterans Health Service Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed. OSA patients were assigned to two groups as the date of prescribing PAP: after (=Group A) and before (=Group B) July 1, 2018 when PAP therapy starts to be included in healthcare insurance coverage for OSA patients in South Korea. PAP adherence was compared over a 3‐month period between the two groups; subjective improvement after therapy was evaluated using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores. In addition, we evaluated a number of OSA patients who chose to start PAP therapy without healthcare benefit (from July 2018 to December 2018). Results: Each of the 50 patients in the Group A and B exhibited PAP adherence rates of 82% and 26%, respectively ( P < .001). Age did not affect PAP adherence in the Group A. The mean apnea‐hypopnea index (from 36.7 to 1.34, P < .001) and ESS (from 7.6 to 5.6, P = .004) scores of patients in the Group A had significantly improved within the first three months. Twenty‐three (23 out of 334, 6.9%) OSA patients did not have any healthcare insurance, but they medically needed PAP therapy. However, only one of the 23 patients began PAP treatment. Conclusion: Short‐term PAP adherence significantly improved after PAP therapy was included in healthcare insurance coverage.