Researchers to children: Wear your CPAP masks
By HME News Staff
Updated Sun March 19, 2006
BALTIMORE - Children with sleep apnea don't always use CPAP masks consistently enough to improve their breathing and oxygen levels, according to a new study.
The findings of the study, which involved 29 children over six months, were published in the March issue of Pediatrics.
Researchers reported that 78% of parents told them their children did not use masks every night. They also reported that even the children who used masks every night only did so for an average of five hours.
When masks are used correctly, researchers found a nine-fold average decrease in the apnea hypopnea index (AHI), which represents the number of interruptions in breathing per hour.
Researchers did not address the reasons for non-compliance, saying further studies are needed.
The Johns Hopkins Children's Center and two other pediatric hospitals conducted the study, which was partially funded by ResMed, the manufacturer of the device used in the study.
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