Our analyses suggest that a greater percentage of patients will achieve normal functioning with longer nightly CPAP durations, but what constitutes adequate use varies between different outcomes.
.18), p=NS). Thus, the change in MVCs over time between the groups was very significant (change = -0.12 (95% CI -0.17 to -0.06), p<0.001)). The MVC rate in untreated patients (n=27) remained high over time. Driving exposure was not diVerent following CPAP. Conclusions-The risk of MVCs due to OSA is removed when patients are treated with CPAP. As such, any restrictions on driving because of OSA could be safely removed after treatment. (Thorax 2001;56:508-512)
Annually, a small but significant portion of motor-vehicle collisions, costs, and deaths are related to OSAS. With CPAP treatment, most of these collisions, costs, and deaths can be prevented. Treatment of OSAS benefits both the patient and the public.
Aims To assess the advantages and disadvantages of four methods for studying compliance with antidepressants: self-report scores, tablet counts, a microprocessor (MEMS) container system and the assay of nordothiepin and dothiepin concentrations in plasma. Methods The techniques were used in 88 patients commencing tricyclic antidepressants in the setting of UK general practice. Results The MEMS system proved to be the most informative technique allowing identi®cation of the precise time of container opening, the demonstration of`drug holidays' and early cessation of therapy. Self-report scores (Morisky) proved a useful screening technique with a sensitivity of 72.2% and speci®city of 74.1% for i80% compliance. Although tablet counts were possible in 84 patients (95.5%) they were unreliable in 19 (21.6%). Blood concentration assays proved the least acceptable method to patients and were possible in only 53 (60.2%). A ratio of nordothiepin:dothiepin i 1.1 claimed, by others, to identify noncompliance was only reliable when concentrations were low. Conclusions Both the MEMS system and self-report scores proved useful methods for identifying noncompliant patients in the setting of UK general practice. Although compliance was higher than reported in previous studies with 70 patients (79.5%) completing 6 weeks treatment, general practitioners tended to prescribe subtherapeutic doses.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.