Prevention of Airway Obstruction Events

Patients recruited for the study will undergo two different PAP therapy treatments during sleep: a control treatment and an intervention treatment. Both types of treatment will be delivered using a positive airway pressure (PAP) device with an Investigational Testing Authorization (ITA) from Health Canada (HC). This medical device consists of a commercially available PAP device which has been integrated with a feature to communicate with a computer hosting the predictive software via USB. Using signals received from the PAP device, the software can predict incoming apneas and direct the PAP machine to increase pressure for a short period of time; This study has been designed as a single-blind, randomised crossover study, in which recruited patients who suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) will undergo at least two sleep studies. During a sleep study, the patient will spend a night of sleep at the sleep clinic (Sleep Disorders Clinic, QEII Abbie J. Lane Memorial Building) and receive one of two PAP therapy treatments; For the control treatment, the PAP device will deliver standard PAP therapy treatment to the patient; For the intervention treatment, the PAP device will deliver the standard PAP therapy treatment in addition to intervention when an apnea is predicted; All recruited participants will undergo at least two study nights and receive both treatments at least once; For all study night, standard Polysomnography (PSG) measurements will also be acquired (breathing rate, brain waves, movement, blood rate, oxygen levels, etc.); Participants will not be told what therapies are being used for each night, and the device used will be concealed from their view; After each night, participants will be asked to fill out a Satisfaction/Adherence questionnaire.

Inclusion criteria

• No history of self-reported cardiovascular or neurological issues
• Must be a current PAP machine user.
• Must have used PAP machines for more than 4 months.
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must be able to comply with all study requirements as outlined in the consent form
• Must be able to understand English and be willing to provide written informed consent
• For all nights of the study, participant must be willing to lend their personal PAP device for inspection.
• Must be willing to have their CPAP SD memory card analyzed by OSCAR to determine their average OAI over the past 30 days of use.
• For the low OAI group, participants must have an average OAI between 0.8 - 2.99 and AHI < 5.0 in the past 30 days, which would result in at least one obstructive apnea every two hours each night.
• For the high OAI group, participants must have an average OAI ≥ 3.0 and AHI ≥ 5.0 in the past 30 days, which would result in around 5 obstructive apneas every hour each night.

Exclusion criteria

• Subjects actively using bi-level PAP or require oxygen therapy
• History of severe cardiovascular disease, including NYHA Class III or IV heart failure, CAD with angina, or MI/stroke within past 6 months
• Subjects who are medically complicated or who are medically unstable (i.e. cancer, dementia, unstable cardiac or respiratory disease, or unstable psychiatric illness)
• Potential sleep apnea complications that in the opinion of the clinician may affect the health and safety of the participant
• Subjects exhibiting any flu-like or any upper airway tract infection symptoms at the time of assessment
• Pregnant (confirmed verbally)
• Inability or unwillingness of individual to give written informed consent
• Has received bariatric surgery

All participants currently screened, enrolled, and consented who have not yet had all overnight testing done, AND who have an OAI < 3.0 and AHI < 5.0, will be excluded from the study, as this group has been fully enrolled to date.