High elevation and cpap

Bouteloua · Post by **Bouteloua** » Thu Jul 14, 2022 7:21 pm

Does anyone know if or how using a cpap at high elevation is different from using one at sea level? Does the pressure need to be increased to be an effective throat opening stent?

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Thu Jul 14, 2022 7:36 pm

Most newer models (last 10 years or so) have an automatic elevation adjustment within the machine and we don't need to do anything.
You would have to look at the specifications for your brand/model machine to find the limitations but most are up to 8500 or 9000 feet.
Though some years back I went to the mountains and was up around 12K feet...and I had no problems at all.
I didn't try to change the pressures and my current pressures did the same good job they always did. No change in results.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Thu Jul 14, 2022 11:16 pm

Bouteloua wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 14, 2022 7:21 pm
Does anyone know if or how using a cpap at high elevation is different from using one at sea level? Does the pressure need to be increased to be an effective throat opening stent?

No, because 15cmh2o over ambient is 15cmh2o over ambient no matter what the ambient pressure is (well, at least where you can breathe and survive).

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:06 am

Bouteloua wrote: ↑
Thu Jul 14, 2022 7:21 pm
high elevation

How high?

D.H. · Post by **D.H.** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 2:25 pm

Most (all?) CPAP machines made now have automatic altitude adjustment, generally until about 8000 ft (2400 meters). They're not certified for higher than that, although I was advised that they'll work for somewhat higher. I guess you could go high enough to hit the capacity of the motor (especially if your prescription is high).

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 4:17 pm

The Resmed Autoset adjusts automatically to altitude. Thus the CPAP pressure readings, in terms of absolute cm of water pressure at a particular altitude, are correct. The company guarantees validity to 8000 ft (2438 m). Since some of our patients live above that altitude, we evaluated its altitude adjustment at higher levels. With the unit set at a fixed pressure of 10 cm H2O, with the mask occluded, the output was checked at 4 elevations during a single drive, 4,600 ft (1400 m), 6200 ft (1890 m), 8700 ft (2650 m) and 10,200 ft (3115 m) by water manometry. The Autoset produced precisely 10.0 cm H2O at each elevation.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl ... %20correct.

Janknitz · Post by **Janknitz** » Fri Jul 15, 2022 7:06 pm

My daughter currently lives in Albuquerque, NM. When I went with her to find a place to live, we stayed at an AirBnB up above the city itself. The official elevation of AlBQ is 5,312, and this was higher, probably around 5,600. I had no problems with CPAP and my oxygenation throughout the night was really good.

High elevation and cpap

High elevation and cpap

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Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Auto PAP; 13.5 cmH2O min - 20 cmH2O max