Telemedicine service sleep apnea

In France, 500,000 people with sleep apnea are treated with a continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP) to wear at night. Despite its effectiveness, the treatment of choice, very restrictive, is often not observed or abandoned during the first 6 months. Respir @ dom, a telemedicine project, aims to improve monitoring. Explanations.
This remote monitoring treatment of sleep apnea creates a link between the greatest doctor, home health provider and the patient, it makes player treatment.

Sleep apnea: poor adherence

  The sleep apnea affects 5-7% of the population. More than 500,000 people are treated with a continuous positive airway pressure device (CPAP), which sends pressurized air into the airway through a mask applied to the face. This treatment helps to lower cardiovascular risk and metabolic , increased risk in people with sleep apnea syndrome. "The mask must be worn at least 3 to 4 hours per night to ensure long-term effect on cardiovascular prevention in particular," said Dr. Sylvie Royant-Parola, President of the Network and project coordinator Morpheus Respir @ dom. However, "20 to 33% of patients discontinue treatment during the first 4 months and 20 to 50% have insufficient compliance," she informs. "It is not so easy to get used to wearing the mask mandatory every night," says the doctor. Social Security takes into account the duration of use for reimbursement.
In addition, in the current health care system, the health care provider at home that brings equipment home and maintains, was not aware of the technical problems (leaks, insufficient correction of apnea), or health and feelings of the patient between visits. These factors impede adherence. Hence the idea of ​​a telemedicine service which aims to increase the number of people who follow their treatment correctly. "Patients treated well from the start will not over-causing risk of cardiac complications or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) later, "said Dr Royant-Parola.

Sleep apnea: a proposed treatment monitoring through telemedicine

"Respir @ dom is a telemedicine service which involves the remote monitoring of patient treatment apneic" announcement Dr. Royant-Parola. Innovation? "All CPAP machines transmit data on a daily basis on a secure server in the Medical Record Medical Sleep (DMS) Network Morpheus via a GPRS system," said the specialist. These data are available by the doctor, home health provider and the patient. They are analyzed and automatically generate alerts in case of technical defects (malfunction, leakage, insufficient correction of apnea ...). "This allows for greater responsiveness and a more rapid physician and home health provider," said Dr. Royant-Parola. These alerts are sent first to the home health provider that will trigger an action to correct the problem. If it is necessary to modify the treatment, the doctor intervenes.
In parallel with this daily transmission, the patient can return data on its secure space in its DSM: clinical status, tolerance to treatment. "If the patient says he does not feel well, unmotivated, a warning is issued and the clinical health professional will be able to respond," said the physician coordinator of this project. He added: "It telemonitoring offers more personalized services to patients who also become involved in their treatment."

Respir @ dom, better inform the patient

With this project telemedicine, the patient is accompanied also better informed. "Respir @ dom, it is also a community platform supporting a forum moderated by a psychologist or a doctor," said Dr. Royant-Parola. The goal? "Create a dynamic support between patients to advance in the treatment of apnea and better manage their health." "We know the positive discourse of a patient is more convincing than the speech of a health professional," adds Dr. Royant-Parola. This site also informs people with apnea of ​​this disease, treatment, medical advances. There is also a serious game that can involve family and especially children. "With the various aspects of this project, we hope to less désappareillage, better adherence and, ultimately, less over-risk of stroke and heart attack , "says Dr. Royant-Parola.
Part telemonitoring program Respir @ dom is currently restricted to 200 patients included in the study of medico-economic evaluation which will end on 30 November 2013. This program will then be generalized. You can already find out about the site if you are concerned www.respiradom.fr (e).