Auto-Adjust vs Constant Pressure Mode

[languageusa]

The auto-adjust pressure mode delivers CPAP therapy while automatically adjusting the pressure level to meet patient’s needs. The constant pressure mode maintains a pre-set pressure level. The auto-adjust mode seems to be flexible and therefore more beneficial. I was prescribed the constant pressure mode for my CPAP therapy after using the auto-adjust mode just for the first week of the therapy (pressure of 10-16). My daily AHI levels were consistently under 5 with the auto-adjust, and now they are consistently in the range of 15-30 with the constant mode (pressure of 12). Why the constant mode is used at all when there is the auto-adjust mode which seems to work much more efficiently? Thanks for your thoughts on this.

[LSAT]

The auto adjust mode works well for some...not so well for others.

[Pugsy]

Is your machine the Pro with Auto IQ? Or did they give you a trial with a machine had APAP mode and change to a straight cpap machine?

If your AHI is too high with cpap mode pressure of 12 then perhaps 12 simply is too low to do a good job.

Also...need to evaluate each event category of that AHI that is higher than you want. Do you have software reports available for cpap mode and apap mode? Perhaps if we could see what you see we might have some ideas what is going on.

In general why use cpap with apap seems to work? Some people don't do well with APAP mode...pressure changes themselves can disrupt sleep or make leaks harder to manage. Some doctors or DMEs simply think cpap mode is best for everyone..in reality sometimes it might be but others might do better with apap mode. Some people need much higher pressures when they sleep on their back or maybe even in REM stage sleep. If straight cpap is used and higher pressure was needed...events will slip past the defenses. Not everyone needs higher pressures though...some people their pressure needs rarely change.

[languageusa]

Is your machine the Pro with Auto IQ? Or did they give you a trial with a machine had APAP mode and change to a straight cpap machine?

The machine is Pro with Auto-Trial.

[Pugsy]

So limited APAP mode availability? Does it say Auto IQ on the blower unit? If so 30 days of APAP mode available...officially. but there is a way to keep renewing that 30 days APAP mode. It involves resetting the therapy hours to zero though...so not something you want to do if you still have to prove compliance for insurance reasons. Once it is yours and you don't have to show the DME anything....you can get more APAP mode if you have the Auto IQ.

[chunkyfrog]

I vote for APAP over CPAP.
I was started out on an Elite with straight 14 cm with EPR=3
It worked OK for several months, but I have more comfort with my Autoset;
and my pressure rarely gets to 12, staying mostly between 10.2 and 11.8.

[Xney]

I think it just depends. APAP works better for some, CPAP works better for others. You have to try and see, and look at the data.

One nice thing about APAP is if you don't always need higher pressure, it makes the average pressure you breathe against lower. but I kind of preferred CPAP back when I was just on regular CPAP/APAP.

It's nice to have an auto machine so you can do either..

[chunkyfrog]

And an APAP lets you choose.

[DoriC]

I vote for APAP over CPAP.
I was started out on an Elite with straight 14 cm with EPR=3
It worked OK for several months, but I have more comfort with my Autoset;
and my pressure rarely gets to 12, staying mostly between 10.2 and 11.8.

@Chunky, what are your Apap pressures?