The effect of anxiety on obstructive sleep apnea treatment

The most effective method in the treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders is positive airway pressure treatment. Treatment compliance is effected by several factors which include treatment method, patient characteristics, adverse effects of treatment and symptomatic benefits after treatment. Depression and anxiety disorders may decrease treatment compliance in patients with chronic illnesses. In our study, we aim to analyse relationship between Beck Anxiety Scale scores and PAP treatment compliance of patients and establish the factors which effects PAP treatment compliance. 98 patients who had polysomnography and Beck Anxity scale in between January 2012 and December 2015,are accepted to our study. Patient characteristics which include demographical data, comorbidities, symptoms, sleep habits, Epworth Sleep Scale and results of Berlin Survey are recorded. Device compliance of patients have interrogated by phone call. There was no difference between two groups about demographical features.BAI scale scores of non compliant group were significantly higher than treatment compliant group. Moreover, BAI scores were higher in females and those with higher ESS scores. Also our study released that, patients who has television in bedrooms are associated with 9,8 fold increase in treatment non-compliant behavior. Our study shows us, there is an inverse relationship between anxiety and PAP compliance. We suggest that, anxiety symptoms are asked to patients to increase treatment compliance. Because of being a TV in bedroom has a negative effect on treatment compliance; we thought that giving information to patients who planned PAP treatment will increase patients' compliance. There are few studies about relationship between PAP compliance and anxiety, so our study will improve the literature. Key Words: Sleep-related breathing disorders, treatment compliance, anxiety, television.