How is the effectiveness of CPAP therapy measured?

The effectiveness of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is primarily measured by changes in the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) and patient-reported symptoms. The AHI is a critical metric that quantifies the severity of obstructive sleep apnea by counting the number of apnea and hypopnea events per hour of sleep. A reduction in the AHI indicates that the CPAP therapy is effectively maintaining airway patency throughout the night, thereby alleviating the condition.

Furthermore, patient-reported symptoms, such as daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and overall sleep quality, provide valuable insights into how well the therapy is working from the patient's perspective. Monitoring both clinical data (like AHI) and subjective experiences ensures a comprehensive assessment of the therapy's effectiveness.

In contrast, while patient weight loss can have a positive effect on sleep apnea, it is not a direct measure of CPAP therapy effectiveness. Length of device use is important for therapy adherence but does not directly correlate with effectiveness. Similarly, subjective reports from family members might offer additional context but are not reliable indicators of the direct outcomes of CPAP therapy. Therefore, combining AHI measurements with patient-reported symptoms offers the most accurate assessment of how well CPAP therapy is working.