Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2014 Apr 15;10(4):377-83.
doi: 10.5664/jcsm.3608.

Effect of addition of chin strap on PAP compliance, nightly duration of use, and other factors

Shelley R Knowles  1 , Daniel T O'Brien  2 , Shiling Zhang  3 , Anupama Devara  3 , James A Rowley  4
Affiliations

Effect of addition of chin strap on PAP compliance, nightly duration of use, and other factors

Shelley R Knowles et al. J Clin Sleep Med. .

Abstract

Study objectives: A chinstrap is potentially useful to reduce unintentional air leak by preventing mouth opening during PAP treatment. This study examines whether the addition of a chinstrap to PAP therapy has any effect on adherence, nightly duration of use, air leak, and residual AHI.

Methods: This was a retrospective study performed at an AASM-accredited VAMC sleep center. Clinical sleep data of veterans (n = 124) prescribed PAP therapy for sleep apnea was evaluated, and the effect of chinstrap use vs non-use on the above parameters was assessed.

Results: Chinstrap users had significantly greater PAP adherence, longer nightly duration of PAP use, lower residual AHI and lower leak compared to chinstrap non-users at first follow up visit.

Conclusions: The addition of a chin strap to PAP therapy is a simple and inexpensive method of increasing PAP adherence.

Keywords: AHI; Chin strap; adherence; air leak; compliance; positive airway pressure; sleep apnea.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Chin strap front and side views
Example of wide white chin strap application
Figure 2
Figure 2. Effect of chin strap use at first follow up visit
Data from first sleep clinic follow up visit after PSG with in-lab CPAP titration. Chin strap users N = 38, non-users N = 86. Compliance %, percentage of nights PAP used; used duration, nightly duration of PAP use in minutes; PCT ≥ 4 h, percentage of nights used greater than or equal to 4 hours duration; leak is in minutes/ night; ESS, Epworth Sleepiness Score. Residual AHI, apnea-hypopnea index from PAP machine smart card. Results from t-test, * = statistically significant.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Martinez-Garcia MA, Campos-Rodriguez F, Catalán-Serra P, et al. Cardiovascular mortality in obstructive sleep apnea in the elderly. Role of long-term CPAP treatment: a prospective observational trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2012;186:909–16. - PubMed
    1. Martínez-García MA, Soler-Cataluña JJ, Ejarque-Martínez L, et al. Continuous positive airway pressure treatment reduces mortality in patients with ischemic stroke and obstructive sleep apnea: a 5-year follow-up study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2009;180:36–41. - PubMed
    1. Marin JM, Carrizo SJ, Vicente E, Agusti AG. Long-term cardiovascular outcomes in men with obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea with or without treatment with continuous positive airway pressure: an observational study. Lancet. 2005;365:1046–53. - PubMed
    1. Weaver TE, Sawyer AM. Adherence to continuous positive airway pressure treatment for obstructive sleep apnea: implications for future interventions. Indian J Med Res. 2010;131:245–58. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Beecroft J, Zanon S, Lukic D, Hanly P. Oral continuous positive airway pressure for sleep apnea: effectiveness, patient preference, and adherence. Chest. 2003;124:2200–8. - PubMed