Sleep apnea affects millions of people around the world, with many of those individuals living with complex sleep apnea (CompSAS) – a combination of obstructive and central sleep apneas. But despite the huge number of people affected by this condition, they haven’t always been prescribed the most effective therapy.
A recent study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine – ‘Comparison of physiological performance of four adaptive servo ventilation devices in patients with complex sleep apnea’ – could point to a brighter future. It shows that Adaptive Servo-Ventilation (ASV), a non-invasive method of treatment that continuously monitors the breathing status of sleep apnea patients, is a treatment option for patients with CompSAS.
ASV is a form of positive airway pressure (PAP) delivered when the patient experiences a lapse in breathing due to complex sleep apnea. When used with patients who have CompSAS, ASV may bring benefits.