Multicenter Support Network for CPAP Therapy Follow-up in Sleep Apnea

摘要

Despite its fast penetration into many fields, the application of information and communication technologies in clinical practice is still limited, especially in respiratory medicine. The availability of tools such as the Internet has grown rapidly but it is rarely considered as an option for management of the Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). We developed a novel multicenter support system for the follow-up of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in patients with OSAS. The system essentially consists of a support network that allows several sleep centers to perform online monitoring of their patients, whose data are stored in a secure central server. Patients interact with the system through a web-based interface that can be accessed from their home personal computer or tablets. By visiting the website, patients can answer a weekly questionnaire about their status and therapy, with access to continuously updated temporal trends in a graphic format. The system also provides easy communication with sleep center staff by e-mail and videoconference. After the development phase, the system has started to be put into operation. The positive preliminary results obtained show the potential usefulness of the Internet as a tool for supporting home monitoring of CPAP treatment in OSAS.