Better solutions to improve sleep therapy adherence

It’s estimated that more than 100 million people worldwide suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) [1]. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), delivered to the patient via masks and headgears, is the treatment of choice for most people with this disorder. To be effective, it is essential that patients use their CPAP for a significant portion of their sleep each night since the benefits from CPAP therapy are rapidly lost following discontinuation of its use [2]. A patient’s ability to adhere to therapy is rooted in mask fit and comfort, which is why Philips, the number one choice brand of U.S. sleep physicians for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and masks, is always evolving its suite of solutions to improve the experience of those living with OSA. 

"It’s important that we continue to take strides to optimize the patient’s experience with their mask and headgear from the first time it’s worn and on every subsequent night during their CPAP therapy," said Dr. Teofilo Lee-Chiong, Chief Medical Liaison for Sleep and Respiratory Care at Philips. "Fit, stability, comfort, ease of use and flexibility to accommodate various sleep positions are key factors to consider when choosing a mask for each patient." 

With this in mind, Philips has introduced updated headgear for its DreamWear Nasal and Gel Pillows masks. A new three-piece headgear, which rests further down on the head and adds arm pieces around the mask to further improve stability, is designed to lessen the likelihood of the mask and headgear slipping or shifting during sleep. Its user-centric construction builds on the DreamWear’s goal of delivering an unprecedented level of comfort and an improved sleep experience. In surveys, patients described the updated headgear as being more stable and comfortable than earlier designs, highlighting that their masks stayed in place during use, and expressing greater satisfaction with their quality of sleep [3][4].

With the updated DreamWear headgear, Philips reaffirms its commitment to developing new and better solutions for patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Its added stability, better fit and greater comfort is expected to positively impact the patient’s experience when using the DreamWear Nasal and Gel Pillows CPAP masks.  

[1] The Official STOP-BANG Questionnaire. Retrieved from http://www.stopbang.ca/osa/prevalence.php.

[2] Young LR; Taxin ZH; Norman RG; Walsleben JA; Rapoport DM; Ayappa I. Response to CPAP withdrawal in patients with mild versus severe obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome. SLEEP 2013;36(3):405-412. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23449493  

[3] Versus the original DreamWear Nasal mask. Patient preference study with DreamWear Nasal with original headgear users; (n=140), Jan/March 2019, at 30 days.

[4] Versus the original DreamWear Gel Pillows mask. Patient preference study with DreamWear Gel Pillows with original headgear users; n=47, Jan/March 2019, at 30 days.