Telemedicine Applications in Sleep Disordered Breathing

Various methods are available to assess adherence and compliance with nasal CPAP at home. Objective data can be obtained by either downloads from the memory card of the CPAP device or by direct interrogation of CPAP devices that do not have memory cards. Telemedicine applications can be useful to monitor and motivate patients on a large scale. There are emerging mechanisms for supporting virtual visits and remote monitoring if they can be shown to be financially competitive. Inclusion of sham telemedicine control arms might determine whether increased adherence might have been caused by the perception of monitoring by the patients, or by the more prompt institution of clinical interventions. As this new frontier is explored, it is of paramount importance to be aware of how to use this technology safely, and within the health care system’s current legal confines. In addition, careful telemedicine management will provide a more seamless communication flow, to the benefit of medical providers, the global health care system, and ultimately for patients.