Wenn CPAP nicht genutzt oder nicht vertragen wird – Vorschlag für eine standardisierte Terminologie

Background: The standard therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is nighttime positive airway pressure (PAP). Generally, it has few side effects and represents a long-term treatment. However, not every patient is able to tolerate or accept the therapy or is willing to comply long-term. Other patients even have to terminate treatment for objective reasons. Objectives: There are no clear terms defined yet in clinical guidelines for the noncompliance of PAP therapy. The aim of our article is to introduce standardized definitions that may be used as a reference for clinical practice and scientific approaches. Materials and Methods: A board of experts has extensively studied the literature, definitions and background information regarding the topic. They considered different types of noncompliance or termination of PAP treatment and thus formed categories and definitions. Results: These are the categories of PAP noncompliance as proposed by the board of experts: PAP non-acceptance, PAP incompatibility, PAP intolerance, PAP failure, and PAP discontinuance. Conclusion: These categories, including definitions, may serve as a foundation for standardized management of OSA patients that need to be prepared for PAP therapy.