Efficiency of a Phone Coaching for Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome Patients

Background: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) remains the reference treatment for moderate to severe forms of the Sleep Apnea/Hypopnea Syndrome (SAHS). Compliance to the treatment appears to be a key factor to improving health status of these patients. Methods: The investigators conducted a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel group trial of standard support completed or not within 3 months of coaching sessions for newly diagnosed SAHS patients starting CPAP therapy. The coaching session consisted of 5 sessions of telephone-based counseling by competent staff. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients using CPAP more than 3 hours per night for 4 months; the secondary outcome was mean hours of CPAP usage in the 2 groups.