Adherence Patterns to Positive Airway Pressure in Elderly Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This study aimed to evaluate objective adherence to positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy in elderly patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to compare it with younger populations. We conducted a retrospective analysis on 5,903 patients receiving PAP treatment (CPAP, AutoCPAP, or BIPAP) within a healthcare department serving 250,000 inhabitants. Data on demographics, treatment duration, and device-recorded usage were collected. Patients were categorized by adherence levels: non-compliant (<1 h/day), partially compliant (1–3 h/day), compliant (>3 h/day), and highly compliant (≥6 h/day). Two age groups were analyzed: <70 years (group A) and ≥70 years (group B). Mean adherence was 4.6±2.9 h/day. Elderly patients demonstrated significantly higher adherence than younger patients (4.9±2.9 vs 4.5±2.9 h/day, p<0.001) and a greater proportion of highly compliant individuals. These findings indicate that elderly patients exhibit better adherence, supporting PAP therapy use in this population.