Implementing protocol for obstructive sleep apnea screening in the primary care setting

Aim1) To implement obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) screening of at -risk patients in a primary care setting; 2) to evaluate and refer screened participants to sleep studies since early identification of OSA symptoms is an important initial step in reducing the burden of undiagnosed OSA disease.MethodParticipants completed the STOP-Bang questionnaire and those considered to be at risk were referred for sleep studies for disease identification, categorization, and treatment.ResultsPrevalent OSA screening and referral rates at the clinic prior to project implementation was 3% and 0% respectively, compared to the corresponding rates of 43% and 39% post project implementation. Out of 187 participants screened between January and April 2018, 61% had scores of 3 and higher on the STOP-Bang questionnaire, however, only 39% of the at-risk participants agreed to undergo sleep studies. Those who declined sleep study referrals were mostly participants who were not experiencing higher burden of sleep deprivation. Out of 45 participants who underwent sleep studies, 67% were diagnoses with moderate to severe OSA with recommendations to initiate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine therapy.ConclusionMost primary care providers do not routinely screen at-risk patients for OSA despite existing clinical practice guideline recommending early and accurate diagnosis of OSA for this population. The Stop -Bang screening tool can reliably predict the presence of moderate to severe OSA. Early identification of OSA risks in the primary care setting through routing screening is very imperative in order to minimize its effects on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The obtained results highlight the potentially high unmet need for screening and treatment of OSA in the primary care setting.     

STOP-Bang Screening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Preoperative Patients: A Quality Improvement Project

PurposeUndiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) results in increased morbidity and mortality. It is important to screen preoperative patients for OSA risks in order to plan for adverse events during operations. This project implemented OSA screening and education with preoperative patients and referred them for further evaluation and diagnosis.DesignQuality improvement project.MethodsSTOP-Bang was implemented with 32 preoperative patients at an ambulatory surgery center to screen and educate patients about OSA risks and refer them for further evaluation.FindingsAt follow-up, 46.9% out of the 32 patients reported further consultation with their primary care providers, among whom, 60% further consulted a sleep medicine practitioner and completed a sleep study. Screening and education, support from significant others, and collaboration between healthcare professionals are facilitators to seeking OSA evaluation.ConclusionsImplementing OSA screening and education for preoperative patients is beneficial for further evaluation and diagnosis.     

Safety of a Novel Obstructive Sleep Apnea Triage Tool for Postoperative Orthopedic Surgery Patients

PurposeThe purpose of this quality improvement project is to provide a tool for effective and safe triage of postoperative patients in the postanesthesia care unit with known or suspected obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) at an academic orthopedic hospital in New York City.DesignThe structure of this project was observational after implementation of a novel OSA triage tool.MethodsResults were reported from a single center experience in a hospital where there was no existing standard assessment tool consistently used to triage patients with either known or suspected OSA in the postoperative period. Adult patients who underwent orthopedic surgery between October 2018 and February 2020 and who had a known or suspected history of OSA were included. After admission to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) and upon meeting their modified Aldrete criteria or after 2 hours had elapsed, the PACU primary provider used the OSA triage tool to assess whether the patient had a high or low risk of respiratory deterioration after discharge from the PACU related to OSA. Patients without high-risk criteria were discharged from the PACU to a medical/surgical unit. For patients with high-risk criteria, the PACU provider requested critical care consultation to determine each patient's appropriate hospital disposition upon PACU discharge.FindingsOver the course of the study period, 216 patients were evaluated using the OSA triage tool: 53.2% of the cohort was male, median BMI was 36.3 kg/m², and 80.1% had a prior diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. Patients underwent a variety of orthopedic surgeries with 23.6% having undergone hip surgery, 51.4% knee surgery, 13.4% spine surgery, 9.7% shoulder surgery, and 1.9% foot or ankle surgery. Notably, with the use of this tool, only 12.5% of patients met criteria for critical care consult and 91.7% were admitted to the floor from the PACU. Rapid response for respiratory complications were not observed in any of the patients. There were only three patients who required critical care evaluation after PACU discharge. An anonymous survey completed by PACU nurse practitioners and anesthesiologists revealed a 96.8% self-reported satisfaction with OSA triage tool.ConclusionWe demonstrated that use of a OSA triage tool in the single-center orthopedic PACU at NYULH is potentially a safe and effective method of triaging patients with known or suspected OSA to acute care beds versus higher levels of care.     

Cognitive impairment in patients with traumatic brain injury and obstructive sleep apnea

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of comorbid obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on the cognitive functioning of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients. DESIGN: A case-control study. Neuropsychologic test performances of TBI patients with OSA were compared with those who did not have OSA. The diagnosis of OSA was based on standard criteria using nocturnal polysomnography. SETTING: Three academic medical centers with level I trauma centers, accredited sleep disorders centers, and rehabilitation medicine programs. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-five TBI patients who were part of a project that assessed the effect of sleep disorders in a larger sample of consecutively recruited TBI patients. There were 19 patients with TBI and OSA. They were compared with 16 TBI patients without OSA who were comparable in terms of age, education, severity of injury (when available), time postinjury, and Glasgow Coma Scale scores (when available). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Psychomotor Vigilance Test, Rey Complex Figure Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, digit span test from the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised, and finger-tapping test. RESULTS: The TBI patients with OSA performed significantly worse than the non-sleep disordered TBI patients on verbal and visual delayed-recall measures. The groups performed comparably on motor, visual construction, and attention tests. The TBI patients with OSA made more attention lapses (reaction times >/=500ms), but showed comparable fastest and slowest reaction times on a measure of sustained attention. CONCLUSIONS: OSA is associated with more impairment of sustained attention and memory in TBI patients. It is possible that early identification and treatment of OSA may improve cognitive, and thus potentially functional, outcomes of TBI patients with this disease.     

Predictive abilities of the STOP‐Bang and Epworth Sleepiness Scale in identifying sleep clinic patients at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea

This study compared the predictive abilities of the STOP‐Bang and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) for screening sleep clinic patients for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB). Forty‐seven new adult patients without previous diagnoses of OSA or SDB were administered the STOP‐Bang and ESS and were assigned to OSA or SDB risk groups based on their scores. STOP‐Bang responses were scored with two Body Mass Index cut points of 35 and 30 kg/m² (SB35 and SB30). The tools' predictive abilities were determined by comparing patients' predicted OSA and SDB risks to their polysomnographic results. The SB30 correctly identified more patients with OSA and SDB than the ESS alone. The ESS had the highest specificity for OSA and SDB. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 36:84–94, 2013     

The effect of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea on the sleep quality of bed partners

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on the sleep of snorers' bed partners and to determine whether a bed partner's sleep improves when snoring and OSA are treated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 10 married couples in which 1 member was undergoing polysomnography to evaluate suspected OSA. The patients and their spouses underwent simultaneous polysomnography. Midway through the 1-night study, the patients received nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) with the pressure adjusted to eliminate snoring and obstructive breathing events. Apnea-hypopnea index (episodes/hours of sleep time), arousal index (arousals/hours of sleep time), and sleep efficiency (percent time asleep) were calculated to measure sleep quality. RESULTS: The patients (all male) demonstrated a median (range) apnea-hypopnea index of 26 (3-75) that decreased to 7 (0-34) during the trial of nasal CPAP therapy (P < .05). During the CPAP trial, the median (range) arousal index of the spouses decreased from 21 (14-34) to 12 (4-27) (P < .01), and the spouses' median (range) sleep efficiency increased from 74% (56%-80%) to 87% (64%-95%) (P < .01). CONCLUSION: The elimination of snoring and OSA in these patients was associated with an improvement in the quality of their bed partners' sleep, as indicated by improved sleep efficiency and continuity, even when the spouses had been habitually exposed to snoring and OSA. Assuming that 480 minutes were spent in bed for sleep, a 13% improvement in sleep efficiency (i.e., from 74% to 87%) translates to an additional 62 minutes of sleep per night for the spouses of snorers with OSA.     

Obstructive sleep apnea in neurological patients.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a serious condition that is common among neurological patients. If undiagnosed and untreated, it may lead to hypertension, coronary heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, psychiatric disorders, cognitive impairment, and, ultimately, death. One of the first steps in identifying OSA is to recognize its signs and symptoms. Nursing knowledge of OSA facilitates referral, diagnosis, and treatment of this potentially life-threatening condition.     

睡眠体位对睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征患者呼吸功能的影响

背景阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停(obstructive sleep apnea,OSA)低通气患者的呼吸紊乱严重度与睡眠体位有关,根据呼吸暂停低通气指数(AHI)将OSA患者分为体位型和非体位型两种类型.目的比较体位型与非体位型OSA患者的临床特征,探讨睡眠体位与OSA患者呼吸功能的关系.设计以OSA患者为研究对象的观察对比研究.单位南京军区南京总医院的睡眠呼吸监测中心.对象选择1998-10/2002-05在南京军区南京总医院呼吸内科睡眠呼吸监测室就诊并行整夜多导睡眠仪检查的患者共225例.纳入标准①AHI≥l0次/h者,②平卧位及侧卧位睡眠时间≥30 min者,③年龄≥20岁者.排除标准①年龄＜20岁者,②患重大躯体疾病者.其中63例为体位型,162例为非体位型.方法所有患者均接受整夜多导睡眠仪检查,同时详询患者病史和进行体格检查,应用体积描计仪进行呼吸功能测定.比较体位型与非体位型两组患者的一般临床特征、肺功能参数及多导睡眠图资料.应用多元逐步回归分析探讨决定患者为体位型或非体位型的因子.主要观察指标主要结局两组患者的临床资料、多导睡眠图资料及肺功能比较.次要结局OSA患者的分型与临床资料各项目的相关性.结果225例OSA患者中体位型患者共63例(28%),体位组和非体位组患者体质量指数分别(27.97±3.21),(26.22±2.72)kg/m 2(t=3.977,P＜0.01).两组多导睡眠图资料比较,体质量指数匹配前除侧卧位睡眠时间、平卧位睡眠时间、侧卧位最低血氧饱和度及基础血氧饱和度外,其他项目两组间差异均有显著性意义(P＜0.05或P＜0 01);匹配后除两组夜间肢体运动次数差异无显著意义外,其余结果与原始组比较结果相同.两组肺功能参数间差异无显著性意义(P＞0.05).多元逐步回归分析显示,决定为体位或非体位患者的主要因子为AHI和体质量指数,两因子的预测能力为26.2%;直线相关分析结果表明,在全组及非体位组患者,睡眠呼吸紊乱度(AHI及血氧饱和度)与体质量指数显著相关(P＜0.05或P＜0.01),而在体位组,两者无相关关系(P＞0.05).结论约1/3的OSA患者可归类为体位型,这类患者应对睡眠姿势训练治疗反应良好,可以保留足够的上气道通畅性,减轻睡眠呼吸阻塞程度,改善患者的呼吸功能.     

Improving Provider AASM Guideline Adherence for Adult Obstructive Sleep Apnea

With an estimated 10% of the United States adult population impacted by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a protocol was created to increase clinical provider adherence to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s Clinical Guidelines for OSA. Clinic provider responsibilities included screening patients ≥ 18 years old using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), referring patients scoring > 9 for a sleep study, educating patients diagnosed with OSA regarding disease and treatment options, prescribing treatment and short-term follow-up. After providing education and resources, 72% of patients ≥ 18 years of age were screened and 19 patients with a positive screen and OSA diagnosis had reduced OSA severity after treatment.     

The importance of the STOP- BANG questionnaire as a preoperative assessment tool for the elderly population

Undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may adversely impact surgical patients and can lead to increased morbidity and mortality during the perioperative period, especially among the geriatric patient population (Chung et al. 2008, 2012, 2014; McDonald et al., 2018; Zietlow et al., 2018; Singh et al., 2012). The setting of this quality improvement project was a preoperative anesthesia and geriatric evaluation clinic housed within a 957-bed tertiary academic affiliated hospital. The sample included 45 patients who met the criteria established for surgery and OSA screening preoperatively. Nine patients (20.0%) were assessed as low risk (Stop-bang [SB] score </=2) for OSA, and 36 patients (80.0%) had a prior diagnosis from an ICD-9/10 code or a SB score >/= 3 indicative of high-risk for OSA. The retrospective utilization of a modified SB screening on charts that did not receive a clinical OSA evaluation (n = 52) detected 23 (44.2%) patients who were considered high-risk for OSA but were not identified prior to surgery. The SB questionnaire is underutilized, and patients’ OSA is often unidentified prior to surgery.     

Improving Obstuctive Sleep Apnea Care in the Postanesthesia Care Unit

PurposeThe purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve care of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients through increased staff recognition of OSA in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU).DesignRetrospective chart review with implementation of best practice guideline form to front of patient's chart.MethodsBaseline data were collected during June 2020. Staff education was provided on current hospital policy of OSA patients. Implementation of a care guideline sheet was added to the front of patient charts for patients meeting inclusion criteria; it consisted of continuous pulse oximetry, 30-degree head of bed elevation, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, 1 hour minimum postoperative observation, nonopioid analgesics, and referral to polysomnography. A retrospective chart review was performed following the OSA guideline intervention.FindingsBoth pre- (N = 413) and postintervention (N = 420) groups had statistically similar demographics. CPAP use increased from 16 to 22 (t = 0.890; P = .336). The number of patients experiencing dyspnea decreased from 10 to 8 (t = 0.263; P = .608). The number of patients experiencing acute respiratory events (AREs) decreased from 24 to 18 (t = 1.012; P = .314).ConclusionThere were no significant statistical findings. However, increased recognition of OSA patients by PACU staff can lead to improved care alterations.     

Underappreciation of sleep disorders as a cause of motor vehicle crashes

Despite an increased risk of motor vehicle crashes (MVC) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), we hypothesized that OSA was not considered in drivers admitted to trauma centers after an injury-producing MVC. A retrospective study on drivers involved in MVCs admitted to a level 1 trauma center was performed, with crash cause determined and the frequency of sleep studies recorded. A questionnaire was also mailed to 240 trauma centers seeking information on evaluation of patients with unexplained causes for MVCs, including screening for OSA. There were 122 drivers of MVCs admitted to our hospital, 60/122 (49%) had unexplained crashes and no sleep studies were performed. There were 70 survey respondents (30% return rate), 35/70 (50%) centers routinely screened for syncope after unexplained MVC, however, no center screened for OSA. US trauma centers do not screen for sleep disorders despite the associated increased crash risk and the high prevalence of crashes that can not be explained by other causes. We believe this reflects a lack of awareness of sleep disorders by health care professionals caring for trauma victims and education is of utmost importance.     

Addressing Obstructive Sleep Apnea in the Emergency Department

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent, serious disease that is under-recognized and under-treated. It results from a combination of increased pharyngeal collapsibility and impaired compensatory pharyngeal muscle dilator activity. OSA causes serious morbidity and mortality. OSA is also a public health problem in that it is an independent cause of car crashes, at great cost to society in dollars and lives. OSA is conservatively estimated to affect 2–4% of Americans; however, recent estimates are much higher. Objectives: To educate emergency physicians on the pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of OSA and discuss diagnostic approaches and recommendations that can be made from the emergency department (ED). Discussion: Emergency physicians can play an important role in the recognition and referral of patients at risk for OSA. A focused history and physical examination or the use of a structured evaluation can identify patients at risk for OSA. In addition to referring patients at risk for OSA for further diagnostic work-up, emergency physicians can offer recommendations such as weight loss, moderation of alcohol use and certain medications, and smoking cessation. Conclusion: OSA is a common disease in the United States that is under-recognized and under-treated. ED patients who do not regularly see a primary care provider or have no primary care provider are particularly at risk for undiagnosed OSA. Emergency physicians can play an important role in recognizing patients at risk for OSA, referring them for further diagnostic work-up, and offering recommendations from the ED.     

Sleep disorders

Humans spend approximately one third of their lives asleep. Although the same medical disorders that occur during wakefulness persist into sleep, there are many disorders that occur exclusively during sleep or are manifestations of a disturbance of normal sleep-wake physiology. The most common reason for referral to a sleep laboratory is OSA, whereas the most common sleep disorder is insomnia. Effective treatments now exist for many sleep disorders, such as OSA and RLS, and a major breakthrough in the treatment of narcolepsy seems imminent. Because all disease processes are adversely affected by insufficient sleep, it is essential that the practicing physician understand the causes and treatments of the common sleep disorders.     

Clinical effects of locally delivered nicotine in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder characterized by disordered breathing and associated with increased mortality and cardiovascular morbidity. A factor in the pathogenesis of OSA is hypotonia of the upper airway muscles during sleep, resulting in occlusion of the upper airway. Nicotine may be a suitable drug because it is a stimulant of breathing and activity of oropharyngeal muscles. A novel delivery system, a nicotine tooth patch (NTP) that releases nicotine continuously, has been developed by Perio Products (Jerusalem, Israel). A 2-mg NTP achieved low plasma levels of nicotine with high saliva levels (62 microg/mL), presumably resulting in high nicotine levels in the oropharynx. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two doses of NTP, 2 mg and 4 mg, on the clinical features in OSA. Ten subjects with OSA were admitted overnight and monitored by polysomnography at baseline and during two treatments. The treatments were blind and in a randomized order. After a 4.3-mg NTP, T(max) was 40 +/- 16 minutes, C(max) was 123 +/- 43 microg/mL, and terminal T(1/2) was 29 +/- 11 minutes in saliva. Substantial nicotine levels persisted in saliva for approximately 4 hours. There was no effect of nicotine on the apnea-hypopnea index, even during the first 4 hours when there were high levels of nicotine in saliva (26.4 +/- 11.6, 26.8 +/- 19.5, and 26.8 +/- 23), or on sleep stages. Eppworth Sleepiness Scale scores were lower with a 4.3-mg NTP (9.1 +/- 4.5, 9.1 +/- 7.7, and 5.9 +/- 6.5). Locally delivered nicotine at the doses used had no significant effect on OSA.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停患者血脂及脂蛋白(a)的测定

【目的】测定阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停(OSA)患者血脂及脂蛋白(a)[Lp(a)]的水平,了解OSA对血脂及LP(a)水平的影响及其意义。【方法】采用多导睡眠(PSG)检查的方法,对62例患者,按照呼吸紊乱指数(AHI)分为正常对照组、轻度OSA和中重度OSA三组,检测三组患者血脂及LP(a)的水平。【结果】OSA组的总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三脂(TG)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)及LP(a)的水平高于正常对照组,并且OSA越重,以上指标水平越高,中重度OSA组的高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)明显低于正常对照组。各组TC、TG、LDL-C及Lp(a)与AHI、最长呼吸暂停时间呈正相关、与最低血氧饱和度(minSaO2)、平均血氧饱和度(meanSaO2)呈负相关。【结论】OSA患者存在脂代谢异常,OSA越严重的患者其发生心血管事件的可能性越大。     

Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Recipients of Implantable Defibrillators

Study Objectives: To examine the prevalence and clinical significance of sleep-disordered breathing in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD).
Methods and Results: Overnight sleep studies were performed in 129 ICD recipients who had no history of sleep apnea. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 29 ± 11%. Mild, moderate, and severe sleep apnea was diagnosed in the presence of an apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) of 5–15/h, 15.1–30/h, and >30/h, respectively. No sleep apnea was present in 49 patients (38%), 57 (44%) had central sleep apnea (CSA), and 23 patients (18%) had obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Mild, moderate, and severe sleep apnea were present in 25%, 31%, and 44% of patients with CSA, compared with 52%, 22%, and 26% of patients with OSA (P < 0.05). LVEF was similar in patients with versus without OSA or CSA. Patients with CSA were significantly older and had a higher prevalence of ischemic cardiomyopathy than patients without sleep apnea.
Conclusions: Previously undiagnosed CSA is common in ICD recipients. Severely disordered breathing during sleep was more prevalent among patients with CSA than patients with OSA. This prospective, observational study will examine the long-term clinical significance of sleep-disordered breathing in ICD recipients.     

Improvement in Headaches With Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Retrospective Analysis

Objective.— We aimed to identify clinical features in patients with severe headaches that predicted obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and determine clinical and sleep study characteristics that predicted headache improvement with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Background.— Many patients with headaches complain of sleep symptoms and have OSA. There is often improvement of headaches with CPAP treatment. Methods.— We conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients referred to adult neurology clinic for headaches and sent for polysomnography between January 2008 and December 2009. Follow‐up ranged from 18 to 42 months. Results.— Eighty‐two headache patients (70 females, 12 males) were studied. Mean age was 45 ± 13 years (females 45 ± 13, males 43 ± 11) and mean body mass index was 32 ± 9. Headache types included 17% chronic migraine without aura, 22% episodic migraine without aura, 32% migraine with aura, 21% tension‐type headache, 6% chronic post‐traumatic headache, 11% medication overuse headache, and 7% other types. All patients were receiving standard treatment for their headaches by their neurologist. Fifty‐two patients (63%) had OSA. Increasing age, female gender, and chronic migraine without aura were predictive of OSA. Of the patients with OSA, 33 (63%) used CPAP and 27 (82%) were adherent to CPAP. Headache improvement was reported by 40 patients (49%) due to either standard medical therapy or CPAP. Patients with OSA who were CPAP adherent (21/27) were more likely to have improvement in headaches than patients intolerant of CPAP (2/6), those that did not try CPAP (8/19), and those who did not have OSA (16/30) (P = .045). Of the 33 patients who used CPAP, 13 reported improvement in headaches specifically due to CPAP therapy and 10 additional patients noted benefit in sleep symptoms. The presence of witnessed apneas (P = .045) and male gender (P = .021) predicted improvement in headaches due to CPAP. Conclusions.— Headache patients should be evaluated for the presence of OSA. Treating OSA improves headaches in some patients.     

Surgical treatment of obstructive sleep apnea

THE PRIMARY TREATMENT for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, but the minimum acceptable number of hours of nightly CPAP use remains unclear. INTEGRATED SOFT TISSUE and bone surgery may be a viable alternative for patients who have rejected CPAP as a treatment option. Formal sleep testing has shown that surgery and CPAP therapy are equally successful at resolving OSA. REPEAT SLEEP TESTING conducted several years after patients have undergone combined soft tissue and bone surgery has demonstrated consistent and reliable surgical results. Patients with OSA should be offered surgery as an alternative to life-long CPAP treatment or as an option when CPAP therapy has not been successful.     

Factors Influencing the Use and Nonuse of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Therapy: A Comparative Case Study

The rates of sustained use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy among adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) appear consistently suboptimal, despite the efficacy of this treatment. Using semistructured interviews, this study identified facilitators and barriers toward CPAP therapy after treatment initiation among patients with OSA. A purposive sample of eight patients representing extreme differences in CPAP use was recruited from a multisite sleep disorders clinic at a tertiary health center. Perceived physical, psychological, and social factors were found to influence both CPAP use and nonuse. It was revealed that the way patients feel about themselves influences the ways in which they manage their OSA with or without CPAP. This study underlines the necessity of working with patients and their families to create social environments that are both accepting and supportive of patients with OSA.