CPAP Therapy: Indications, Types of Sleep Apnea, and How It Works

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) delivers pressurized air via mask to stent open the upper airway during sleep.

Primary Indications

1. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): First-line. Airway collapse → apneas/hypopneas. CPAP prevents collapse.
2. Central sleep apnea (CSA): Brain fails to signal breathing. CPAP less effective; ASV/BiPAP preferred.
3. Mixed/complex sleep apnea: CPAP often first, may need ASV/BiPAP.

Other Uses

• COPD with overlap syndrome
• Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
• Neuromuscular respiratory insufficiency
• Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (sometimes)

Mechanism

Positive pressure acts as pneumatic splint, maintaining pharyngeal patency. Fixed pressure (CPAP) or auto-adjusting (APAP).

Adherence

Key to efficacy. Address mask fit, humidity, pressure tolerance, claustrophobia. Follow-up data monitoring guides optimization.