Characterization of the CPAP-treated patient population in Catalonia

PLoS One. 2017 Sep 21;12(9):e0185191. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185191. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

There are different phenotypes of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), many of which have not been characterised. Identification of these different phenotypes is important in defining prognosis and guiding the therapeutic strategy. The aim of this study was to characterise the entire population of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)-treated patients in Catalonia and identify specific patient profiles using cluster analysis. A total of 72,217 CPAP-treated patients who contacted the Catalan Health System (CatSalut) during the years 2012 and 2013 were included. Six clusters were identified, classified as "Neoplastic patients" (Cluster 1, 10.4%), "Metabolic syndrome patients" (Cluster 2, 27.7%), "Asthmatic patients" (Cluster 3, 5.8%), "Musculoskeletal and joint disorder patients" (Cluster 4, 10.3%), "Patients with few comorbidities" (Cluster 5, 35.6%) and "Oldest and cardiac disease patients" (Cluster 6, 10.2%). Healthcare facility use and mortality were highest in patients from Cluster 1 and 6. Conversely, patients in Clusters 2 and 4 had low morbidity, mortality and healthcare resource use. Our findings highlight the heterogeneity of CPAP-treated patients, and suggest that OSA is associated with a different prognosis in the clusters identified. These results suggest the need for a comprehensive and individualised approach to CPAP treatment of OSA.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / mortality
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / therapy*
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Treatment Outcome

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the Spanish Respiratory Society (SEPAR), Associació Lleidatana de Respiratori (ALLER) and ResMed, a company that provides diagnostic services and treatment for sleep apnoea. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. ResMed paid the salaries of the author HW, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.